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
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
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
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
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
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 ...
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. 👇👇👇
@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
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
👇🏻
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
1/12
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
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
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
👆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
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!!