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index test

— A diagnostic test that is being evaluated against a reference standard test in a study of test accuracy


Full explanation:

Evaluations of diagnostic test accuracy require a comparison between the diagnostic test being evaluated, referred to as the index test (e.g. a rapid diagnostic test for malaria) and a reference standard, used to categorise participants as having or not having a target condition (e.g. microscopy for malaria).

See also:

diagnostic test  ·  reference standard test

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← indeterminate diagnostic test result indicator →