Comparing two diagnostic tests against the same "gold standard" in the same sample

Biometrics. 1997 Mar;53(1):73-85.

Abstract

Methods are proposed for comparing two diagnostic tests for the same data where a threshold for positive for each test is specified. One method contrasts the diagnostic tests' estimated risks. A second method compares the two tests' kappa coefficients. When thresholds for positive test results are specified a priori, maximum likelihood estimators and their asymptotic variances are derived and test statistics are presented for both case-control and naturalistic methods of sampling. The bootstrap is proposed as a method to assess differences in risk estimators when thresholds for positive test results are chosen by scanning the data. Examples are given to illustrate the methods.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biometry*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / standards*
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Risk
  • Sample Size
  • Sensitivity and Specificity