The predictive value of a positive test result depends on the sensitivity of the test and also on the prevalence of the disease in the population studied. First, a high sensitivity and not a high specificity is essential for a screening test. In this discussion, two points remain somewhat underexposed. Indeed as with other screening tests the specificity is not 100% ( Kaplan et al., 1995 Smiley and Peterson, 1993), and in conditions that are associated with increased adrenocortical function, such as hepatic encephalopathy ( Rothuizen et al., 1995), elevated ratios can be found. There has been some debate on its specificity ( Feldman, 1992 Rijnberk and Teske, 1992), and recently it was stated that the test lacks specificity ( Feldman, 1995).
This test is now generally regarded as a sensitive screening test for the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism ( Feldman, 1995).
Mol, in Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals (Sixth Edition), 2008 d Comment
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