[Biometric evaluation of the use of a battery of tests for studying the rheumatoid factor]

The research has been executed on a sample embracing 253 patients affected with rheumatid arthritis (ARA criteria), 177 patients affected with osteoarthritis and 104 healthy subjects forming the standard sample. On the serum of every subject we have used a series of five different tests in order to find the rheumatoid factor. The results we obtained have been weighed with biometrical criteria of various kinds in order to single out any possible common behaviour-pattern and to determine the tests diagnostic value as regards the considered disease. We have noticed a different result of single tests as regards the same diagnosis so we can exclude an absolute equivalence of the five tests, though for some of them there is a high mutual relation.