Carlos Manterola; Sofía Bendel; Josué Rivadeneira & Juan Pablo Holguín

With the continuous technological advancement, diagnostic tests (DT) keep improving, presenting us with new alternatives. Given the large number of DTs in use, it is necessary to periodically evaluate the various existing options in order to determine their role in clinical practice. First, the accuracy of the DT must be determined, including its sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Then, its role in a diagnostic pathway must be determined, and finally, its effect on patient outcomes should be examined. In this manuscript, we will outline some principles regarding the reference standard, properties, and discriminatory power of a DT (validity and reliability of a diagnostic test, likelihood ratios, pre- and post-test probabilities, ROC curves, common biases in diagnostic test studies, levels of evidence, and grades of recommendation in DT studies; application of checklists and quality assessment scales for DT studies; and concepts on the use of multiple DT and the application of screening strategies). The aim of this manuscript was to create a study document to review and discuss essential features of DT, providing some examples for better understanding.

MANTEROLA, C.; BENDEL, S.; RIVADENEIRA, J. & HOLGUÍN, J. P. Concepts regarding diagnostic tests and their application. Int. J. Morphol., 43(5):1785-1795, 2025.