4 ms·
> This problem is why getting two tests is always a good thing... It's important to note that the tests results should ideally be as uncorrelated as possible.
by xelxebar 9y ago
> This problem is why getting two tests is always a good thing...
It's important to note that the tests results should ideally be as uncorrelated as possible. At worst a test always gives the same result as its first outcome, so further testing would give zero information.
In practice this means that you probably want tests that are based on completely different mechanisms.
- Fomite 9y agoAlso that those tests are actually testing the same thing, which is tricky with your "two different mechanisms" requirement a lot of the time. My field is currently struggling to get a handle of what one should do in a particular circumstance when one test is negative and the other positive (for those interested, PCR + and toxin assay - for C. difficile).