Jac Dinnes

Senior Research Fellow at Test and Prediction Group, University of Birmingham

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@IslamNayaar @epi_rad @uOttawa_SEPH @uOttawaMed @uOttawaRad @uOttawaResearch @SEPH_GSA @Cochrane_IDG @cochranecollab @CochraneLibrary Many congratulations Nayaar, you should be truly proud of this achievement!

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Great to see the first chapters of this much needed handbook for carrying out systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy coming out. Well done to all involved

[Mariska Leeflang @leeflang_m]

It took a few years, but the first 3 editorial accepted chapters of the @cochranecollab's DTA Review Handbook are online.

(study designs; collecting data; understanding meta-analysis)

https://t.co/SJFP9brRQx

with @deeksj @pmmbossuyt Yemisi Takwoingi @EllaFlemyng Laura Mellor

[Jon Deeks FMedSci @deeksj]

JOB opportunity for early career medical statistician in our team here @unibirmingham. Would suit new MSc/PhD graduate or with a few years experience, particularly interested in test evaluation. Work plan will include a variety of clinical projects.

https://t.co/eFamQAzTcv

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@leeflang_m @deeksj @pmmbossuyt Agreed! I would not have considered that as a factor...

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@SarahChapman30 @Trisha_the_doc @bmj_latest @CochraneUK @Cochrane_IDG Comments like that make it worth the effort, thanks @Trisha_the_doc !

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

It was a real privilege to be part of this. There are a few great test evaluation studies out there but many more not so great. We hope this paper will help those planning new studies or interpreting those already published

[Jon Deeks FMedSci @deeksj]

Important paper in @bmj_latest from global leaders in test evaluation. Hope will improve quality of studies.
1/n

Guidance for the design and reporting of studies evaluating the clinical performance of tests for present or past SARS-CoV-2 infection https://t.co/1sJPpHv6UC

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Great summary of why confirmatory PCR after positive lateral flow tests is welcome but only one step toward improving testing programmes. Seems that support to isolate and better implementation protocols will be a step too far ...

[The Sharing Scientist @ScienceShared]

So government have re-introduced confirmatory PCR of asymptomatic LFD positives.

Now time to introduce these other three (more important tbh) key policies to maximise the benefits of LFD testing. 👇👇👇

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@scb909 @annvdbruel @deeksj @leeflang_m @devymaye @SabineDittrich Not yet but should be at least some data for the next update. Agree that test performance may well not be the same in younger ages

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@karamballes @deeksj @cochranecollab Unfortunately there isn’t much publicly available data on the accuracy of the test in people w/out symptoms let alone children. We will include what there is in the next update but so far does suggest poor sensitivity. Would love to see proper evaluation of this type of policy

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Slight respite for a few days but we’re already well into another set of studies for the next update with more data from asymptomatic testing and hopefully real world evaluations of serial testing strategies
👇🏻

[Jon Deeks FMedSci @deeksj]

Updated @cochranecollab review of Rapid Tests for Covid-19 is here

Rapid, point‐of‐care antigen and molecular‐based tests for diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection - @jacdinnes @deeksj - 2021 | Cochrane Library

https://t.co/4gn7MYvVYn

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[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Excellent read, especially love this “big data and machine learning offer an exciting chance for revolution, but revolutions demand greater scrutiny, not less”. ML has big potential but needs evaluating in the same way as any test before it’s benefits are understood

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Our BMJ blog on school testing - Consent can’t be informed if people aren't told the risks of having false results. We need direct evidence of benefits from testing in schools and proper support for families who need to self-isolate if a positive result is confirmed on PCR

[The BMJ @bmj_latest]

How are the potential benefits and harms from lateral flow device testing being communicated to students, parents, and teachers?

@jacdinnes and Clare Davenport discuss the rollout of mass testing programmes in English schools https://t.co/9tnQekY8Z3 #COVID19

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

@DrJoMorrison1 @deeksj Love it. Might be a quick one to finish too 🐕

[Jon Deeks FMedSci @deeksj]

Just reading this utter statistical nonsense in the Telegraph....

https://t.co/ObUqTldCWq

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

👆Unfortunate that evaluations of Abbott's brand new BinaxNOW antigen test do not seem to be amongst them. How great would it be if these validation results (in symptomatic cases, 83% with high viral load) were shown to apply in practical settings ...
https://t.co/n6Hi570zke

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

For those interesting in sensitivity of the new Abbott BinaxNow against day since symptom onset and Ct value - this is from their insert IFU.

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

Our latest Cochrane COVID-19 DTA review of point-of-care tests published today (thread): https://t.co/fiY7VWBV1j

[Jac Dinnes @jacdinnes]

We are already extracting studies for the review update (searches to 22 Jul) but so far not many signs of improved study design and reporting. We can do so much better than this!!