[New guidelines for better documentation of survey methodology and results]

Surveys of published studies on diagnostic accuracy and the performance of diagnostic tests, widely defined as any method for obtaining additional information on the health status of an individual, have revealed poor methodological quality. This holds true also for scientific journals considered to be leading in their fields. The STARD document (Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy), which was first published in 2003, provides guidelines for the design, performance and report of such studies. Adherence to these guidelines may improve the quality of scientific publications, increased opportunities for readers to get an insight into the experimental details, improved education in medical research and increased opportunities for the disclosure of scientific fraud.