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CLINICAL TESTING
Screening test
Diagnostic test
Purpose
Reveal potential disease indicators
Establish presence of disease
Population
Large numbers potentially at risk
individuals (no symptoms)
Symptomatic individuals or positive
screening test
Method
Simple and acceptable
justifiable to establish diagnosis
Positive result
Suspicion of disease
Definitive diagnosis
Positive result threshold
High sensitivity: not to miss potential
disease
High specificity
Cost
Cheap, benefits should justify the costs
Higher costs justified