Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Confidence Intervals For Predictive Values Using Data From A Case Control Study, Nathaniel David Mercaldo, Xiao-Hua Zhou, Kit F. Lau

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

The accuracy of a binary-scale diagnostic test can be represented by sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). Although Se and Sp measure the intrinsic accuracy of a diagnostic test that does not depend on the prevalence rate, they do not provide information on the diagnostic accuracy of a particular patient. To obtain this information we need to use PPV and NPV. Since PPV and NPV are functions of both the intrinsic accuracy and the prevalence of the disease, constructing confidence intervals for PPV and NPV for a particular patient in a population with …