[CME Laboratory 62: How to Assess the Utililty of Laboratory Tests? D-Dimers as an Example]

CME Laboratory 62: How to Assess the Utililty of Laboratory Tests? D-Dimers as an Example Abstract. Clinicians request laboratory tests or interpret the results several times a day. There remains the question of the value of a test result for the individual patient. How to select the right test among all the tests provided by large laboratories? This article wants to provide guidance for clinicians on how to estimate the utility of laboratory tests. Using the example of D-Dimers, we discuss the purpose of laboratory testing, summarize risks of applying tests to patients, illustrate the role of testing in the process of care, and show how to ask the right questions. We also summarize the factors that affect the utility of tests and discuss how to assess studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy.