Interactive Graphic: Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result
2020
Currently, the most common diagnostic test for COVID-19 relies on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and most often uses samples obtained from the respiratory tract by nasopharyngeal swab. This interactive graphic demonstrates the influence of the prior probability of COVID-19, the test sensitivity (i.e., the probability of a positive test conditional on disease presence), and the test specificity (i.e., the probability of a negative test conditional on disease absence) on the post-test probability of disease.
The interactive is associated with an article published in BMJ entitled "Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result.”* The article presents two case scenarios with well-designed graphics to quantitatively demonstrate the influence of the prevalence of COVID-19 and of the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR, on the posterior (i.e., post-test) probability of disease.
*Source: Watson J, Whiting PF, Brush JE. Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result. BMJ 2020; 369: m1808.
Interactive Graphic: Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result
Source:
Watson J, Whiting PF, Brush JE. Interactive Graphic. Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result. BMJ 2020; 369: m1808. https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1808/infographic