       Document 0174
 DOCN  M9620174
 TI    [The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity and the importance of
       disease prevalence]
 DT    9602
 AU    Lutz H; Winkler GG; Departement fur Innere Veterinarmedizin, Universitat
       Zurich.
 SO    Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 1995;137(6):237-42. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/96065487
 AB    In this paper the terms diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and
       efficiency are explained using the example of feline immunodeficiency
       virus (FIV). Clinical conditions are discussed which require tests with
       high sensitivity and/or specificity. In addition it is shown that the
       prevalence of a disease is an important factor for the predictive value
       of a test result. For instance, tests with good specificity will lead to
       a high proportion of false negative values if the prevalence of the
       disease detected by the test is low. In order to improve the predictive
       value of a positive test result, the clinician must try to assign a
       patient to a population of individuals in which the prevalence of the
       suspected disease is elevated. This can be done by carefully evaluating
       the history and the clinical signs.
 DE    Animal  Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS  Cats  English Abstract
       Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/VETERINARY  Feline Acquired
       Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Immunodeficiency
       Virus, Feline/*IMMUNOLOGY  Prevalence  Sensitivity and Specificity
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

