Updated checklist for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies

(HealthDay)—An updated list of 30 essential items should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study, according to the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) 2015. These new guidelines have been published in several journals, including Radiology, Clinical Chemistry, and The BMJ.

Patrick M. Bossuyt, Ph.D., from the University of Amsterdam, and colleagues reviewed the literature and presented an updated list of 30 essential items that should be included in every report of a diagnostic accuracy study. The update includes recent evidence about sources of bias and variability in diagnostic accuracy.

The authors note that new items in STARD 2015 include a structured abstract; intended use and clinical role of the test; study hypotheses; sample size; structured discussion; registration; protocol; and sources of funding. The updated STARD was designed to apply to all types of medical tests. Extensions may be necessary for specific types of tests, specific applications, or specific forms of analysis.

"This is really the question of how do you know the test to diagnose disease really does diagnose disease," a coauthor said in a statement. "It sounds like such a simple question to ask, but like most simple questions, it turns out it's not so easy."

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