Exam 24: Reference Intervals and Clinical Decision Limits

Which of the following steps should be taken when an outlier value is obtained during data collection for the determination of reference intervals?

Some medical facilities are known for their cerebrovascular centers that provide immediate care for stroke victims.Which of the following attributes is the most desirable for laboratory tests utilized in this environment?

In establishing a reference interval, data are plotted on normal-probability paper, and the resulting line curves away from linearity at the upper portion of the plot.What is the next step that should be taken in determining the reference interval?

Which of the following attributes is the most desirable for a laboratory test utilized in the diagnosis of diseases such as cystic fibrosis that are currently not curable?

Which of the following best describes the analysis of samples to establish reference intervals for a new laboratory method?

Considering normal reference intervals utilized, ______ percent of the time, well (healthy) patients will fall outside this range, and ______ percent of the time, well (healthy) patients will fall within this range.

To construct receiver-operating characteristic curves, which of the following plots is prepared?

Which of the following statements correctly compares and contrasts a-priori and a-posteriori methods of reference individual selection? 1)In both methods, exclusion and partitioning take place after sampling and analyte testing. 2)A-priori methods require fewer reference individuals to be studied than a-posteriori methods. 3)Questionnaires for potential reference individuals must be more detailed for a-posteriori methods than for a-priori methods.

Which of the following laboratory considerations are not necessary factors to consider for the transfer of a reference interval from one laboratory to another?

Reference interval determinations should follow the guidelines established by:

An urologist's office has a high likelihood of encountering patients with prostate cancer.Which of the following attributes is the most desirable for laboratory tests utilized in this environment?

CLSI guidelines recommend that the reference interval be estimated by the nonparametric method and that a minimum of _______ reference values be utilized for reference-interval determination.

The process of separating reference intervals based on criteria such as age, sex, and race, as well as statistical analysis showing significant differences between these subclasses, is known as:

Which of the following best explains why the phrase reference interval is preferred over the phase normal interval when associated with clinical laboratory test results?

Endocrinologists typically encounter patients with hormonal abnormalities such as Cushing's disease (i.e., hyperadrenocorticism).Which of the following attributes is the most desirable for laboratory tests utilized in this environment?

It has been shown that significant differences between the standard deviations of subclasses of subjects, even when the means are identical, can lead to deviations in diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity for disease detection.Thus in these situations, there may be the need for separate reference intervals.What statistical test should be selected to determine the need for different reference intervals in this situation?