Question 1

Which of the following variables has a significant effect on the predictive value of a test?

Accepted Answer

A)  The doctor diagnosing the condition 
B)  The prevalence of the condition 
C)  The severity of the condition 
D)  The volume of the patient's sample tested 
A)  The doctor diagnosing the condition 
B)  The prevalence of the condition 
C)  The severity of the condition 
D)  The volume of the patient's sample tested B

Question 2

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "specificity" refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct 
A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct A

Question 3

The efficiency of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

Accepted Answer

A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  Out of every 100 test results, 92 are correct. 
A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  Out of every 100 test results, 92 are correct. D

Question 4

How is the precision of a new method compared to the precision of the current method?

Accepted Answer

A)  By calculating the standard deviation from the mean 
B)  By creating a double-blind study 
C)  By using an F test 
D)  By using a Student's t test 
A)  By calculating the standard deviation from the mean 
B)  By creating a double-blind study 
C)  By using an F test 
D)  By using a Student's t test

Question 5

The sensitivity of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

Accepted Answer

A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will detect the condition in 92 out of every 100 patients who have the condition. 
D)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will detect the condition in 92 out of every 100 patients who have the condition. 
D)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition.

Question 6

The prevalence of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this information tell us?

Accepted Answer

A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  The test will provide a correct result 92 of every 100 times. 
A)  A positive result from the diagnostic test is correct 92 out of every 100 tests. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  The test will provide a correct result 92 of every 100 times.

Question 7

When testing for medical conditions,when is high specificity most desired?

Accepted Answer

A)  When a false positive might cause harm 
B)  When the condition is both serious and treatable, and a false positive and false negative are equally injurious 
C)  When the suspected medical condition is serious but not treatable, and a false positive can cause harm 
D)  When the suspected medical condition is serious and treatable, and a false positive does not have harmful consequences 
A)  When a false positive might cause harm 
B)  When the condition is both serious and treatable, and a false positive and false negative are equally injurious 
C)  When the suspected medical condition is serious but not treatable, and a false positive can cause harm 
D)  When the suspected medical condition is serious and treatable, and a false positive does not have harmful consequences

Question 8

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "prevalence" refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct 
A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct

Question 9

How is the reference rage of an assay determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  By testing 100-150 known standards and determining the range that runs from the lowest value to the highest value 
B)  By testing 100-150 specimens that represent the laboratory's patient population and determining the range that runs from 2 SD below the mean to 2 SD above the mean 
C)  By testing 100-150 specimens that represent the laboratory's patient population and ordering the values from lowest to highest with the lowest and highest values representing the range 
D)  None of the above 
A)  By testing 100-150 known standards and determining the range that runs from the lowest value to the highest value 
B)  By testing 100-150 specimens that represent the laboratory's patient population and determining the range that runs from 2 SD below the mean to 2 SD above the mean 
C)  By testing 100-150 specimens that represent the laboratory's patient population and ordering the values from lowest to highest with the lowest and highest values representing the range 
D)  None of the above

Question 10

What does it mean that an assay is said to be "linear"?

Accepted Answer

A)  The final result for a given analyte is directly proportional to the analyte's true measure in the specimen. 
B)  The lowest and highest results for an assay are accurate when compared to known standards. 
C)  The reference range for an assay provides true positive results for greater than 98% of patients. 
D)  There is no interfering substance obscuring the results. 
A)  The final result for a given analyte is directly proportional to the analyte's true measure in the specimen. 
B)  The lowest and highest results for an assay are accurate when compared to known standards. 
C)  The reference range for an assay provides true positive results for greater than 98% of patients. 
D)  There is no interfering substance obscuring the results.

Question 11

A positive result for a patient who does not actually have the condition is considered to be a

Accepted Answer

A)  false negative. 
B)  false positive. 
C)  true negative. 
D)  true positive. 
A)  false negative. 
B)  false positive. 
C)  true negative. 
D)  true positive.

Question 12

When discussing a diagnostic test,what does sensitivity refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct 
A)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect only the medical condition in question 
B)  The ability of a diagnostic test to detect the medical condition in question in every patient who has the condition 
C)  The frequency of the condition in the population tested at a given time 
D)  The quantity that tells the probability that a result from a diagnostic test is correct

Question 13

How is the reportable range of an assay determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  By calculating the standard deviation of known concentrations 
B)  By comparing the referent value to the number of false positives and false negatives 
C)  By establishing the nonparametric ranking of the data and using the lowest and highest points 
D)  By testing several specimens of known concentration that span the analytical range 
A)  By calculating the standard deviation of known concentrations 
B)  By comparing the referent value to the number of false positives and false negatives 
C)  By establishing the nonparametric ranking of the data and using the lowest and highest points 
D)  By testing several specimens of known concentration that span the analytical range

Question 14

What is a difficulty in relying on referent values or cutoffs in converting a numerical test results into a yes-or-no clinical diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Test results can fall beyond the cutoff values, leaving the diagnostic question unanswered. 
B)  The cutoff value is patient-specific and must be calculated for each individual patient. 
C)  The value considered to be the cutoff is variable depending on the prescribing physician. 
D)  There is a range of test result values that are shared between those with and without the condition. 
A)  Test results can fall beyond the cutoff values, leaving the diagnostic question unanswered. 
B)  The cutoff value is patient-specific and must be calculated for each individual patient. 
C)  The value considered to be the cutoff is variable depending on the prescribing physician. 
D)  There is a range of test result values that are shared between those with and without the condition.

Question 15

The positive predictive value of a test is 92%.What does this tell us?

Accepted Answer

A)  The condition is actually present in 92 out of every 100 people who test positive. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  The test will provide a correct result 92 of every 100 times. 
A)  The condition is actually present in 92 out of every 100 people who test positive. 
B)  The condition is present in 92 out of every 100 people with similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 
C)  The test will give a negative result in 92 out of every 100 patients who do not have the condition. 
D)  The test will provide a correct result 92 of every 100 times.

Question 16

What does a recovery experiment test for?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cholesterol concentrations 
B)  Interference 
C)  Proportional systematic error 
D)  Validity 
A)  Cholesterol concentrations 
B)  Interference 
C)  Proportional systematic error 
D)  Validity

Question 17

What is the common approach for determining the accuracy of a method or instrument?

Accepted Answer

A)  Compare the results from several dozen samples obtained by the method under evaluation with the results obtained by an established reference method. 
B)  Create a standard curve from the results of several dozen samples and compare all future test results to the standard curve. 
C)  Test several dozen samples, average the results, and compare the average to the referent values suggested by the manufacturer. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Compare the results from several dozen samples obtained by the method under evaluation with the results obtained by an established reference method. 
B)  Create a standard curve from the results of several dozen samples and compare all future test results to the standard curve. 
C)  Test several dozen samples, average the results, and compare the average to the referent values suggested by the manufacturer. 
D)  All of the above

Question 18

If there were no false positives,what would the specificity of a diagnostic test be?

Accepted Answer

A)  0% 
B)  25% 
C)  50% 
D)  100% 
A)  0% 
B)  25% 
C)  50% 
D)  100%

Question 19

How is bias determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  Calculate the difference from any outlier data points to the mean. 
B)  Compare the average result from several dozen samples to known referent values. 
C)  Plot the results of several dozen samples as a standard curve and compare them to the referent values provided by the manufacturer. 
D)  Subtract the mean result from the reference method from the mean result of the new method. 
A)  Calculate the difference from any outlier data points to the mean. 
B)  Compare the average result from several dozen samples to known referent values. 
C)  Plot the results of several dozen samples as a standard curve and compare them to the referent values provided by the manufacturer. 
D)  Subtract the mean result from the reference method from the mean result of the new method.

Question 20

When testing for medical conditions,when is a high efficiency most desired?

Accepted Answer

A)  When only a false positive might cause harm 
B)  When the condition is both serious and treatable, and a false positive and false negative are equally injurious 
C)  When the suspected medical condition is serious but not treatable, and a false positive can cause harm 
D)  When the suspected medical condition is serious and treatable, and a false positive does not have harmful consequences 
A)  When only a false positive might cause harm 
B)  When the condition is both serious and treatable, and a false positive and false negative are equally injurious 
C)  When the suspected medical condition is serious but not treatable, and a false positive can cause harm 
D)  When the suspected medical condition is serious and treatable, and a false positive does not have harmful consequences

Which of the following variables has a significant effect on the predictive value of a test?

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "specificity" refer to?

The efficiency of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

How is the precision of a new method compared to the precision of the current method?

The sensitivity of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

The prevalence of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this information tell us?

When testing for medical conditions,when is high specificity most desired?

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "prevalence" refer to?

How is the reference rage of an assay determined?

What does it mean that an assay is said to be "linear"?

A positive result for a patient who does not actually have the condition is considered to be a

When discussing a diagnostic test,what does sensitivity refer to?

How is the reportable range of an assay determined?

What is a difficulty in relying on referent values or cutoffs in converting a numerical test results into a yes-or-no clinical diagnosis?

The positive predictive value of a test is 92%.What does this tell us?

What does a recovery experiment test for?

What is the common approach for determining the accuracy of a method or instrument?

If there were no false positives,what would the specificity of a diagnostic test be?

How is bias determined?

When testing for medical conditions,when is a high efficiency most desired?

Arithmetic and Algebra

Exponential Notation & Logarithms

Rounding and the Significance of Figures

Systems of Measurement

Solutions and Concentrations

Dilutions

Proportionality, Graphs, and Rates of Change

Statistics

Chemistry

Hematology

Quality Control

Filters

Exam 12: Method Evaluation

Which of the following variables has a significant effect on the predictive value of a test?

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "specificity" refer to?

The efficiency of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

How is the precision of a new method compared to the precision of the current method?

The sensitivity of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this say about the test?

The prevalence of a diagnostic test is determined to be 92%.What does this information tell us?

When testing for medical conditions,when is high specificity most desired?

In the context of diagnostic tests,what does "prevalence" refer to?

How is the reference rage of an assay determined?

What does it mean that an assay is said to be "linear"?

A positive result for a patient who does not actually have the condition is considered to be a

When discussing a diagnostic test,what does sensitivity refer to?

How is the reportable range of an assay determined?

What is a difficulty in relying on referent values or cutoffs in converting a numerical test results into a yes-or-no clinical diagnosis?

The positive predictive value of a test is 92%.What does this tell us?

What does a recovery experiment test for?

What is the common approach for determining the accuracy of a method or instrument?

If there were no false positives,what would the specificity of a diagnostic test be?

How is bias determined?

When testing for medical conditions,when is a high efficiency most desired?

Arithmetic and Algebra

Exponential Notation & Logarithms

Rounding and the Significance of Figures

Systems of Measurement

Solutions and Concentrations

Dilutions

Proportionality, Graphs, and Rates of Change

Statistics

Chemistry

Hematology

Quality Control

Filters