Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy using routine laboratory parameters

Area of Science:

• Clinical diagnostics
• Biomarker discovery
• Health outcomes research

Background:

• Early disease detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes but remains a clinical challenge.
• Delayed diagnosis often results from limitations in current diagnostic methods.
• Routine laboratory parameters are widely available and cost-effective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of routine laboratory parameters for early disease detection.
• To assess the utility of individual and combined laboratory tests in a tertiary care setting.
• To identify specific markers or panels with high diagnostic potential.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of routine laboratory investigations (complete blood count, metabolic panel, liver/kidney function, inflammatory markers) in 486 adults.
• Comparison of laboratory results against confirmed diagnostic outcomes.
• Statistical evaluation using sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Main Results:

• Combined laboratory panels achieved high diagnostic accuracy (Area Under the Curve [AUC] = 0.847).
• Inflammatory markers demonstrated the highest sensitivity (82.4%).
• Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio offered the optimal balance between sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions:

• Integration of multiple routine laboratory parameters enhances diagnostic accuracy for early disease detection.
• Inflammatory markers and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are promising indicators.
• This approach presents a practical and cost-effective strategy for diverse healthcare settings.