Table 2

The QUADAS tool

Item

Yes

No

Unclear

1.

Was the spectrum of patients representative of the patients who will receive the test in practice?

( )

( )

( )

2.

Were selection criteria clearly described?

( )

( )

( )

3.

Is the reference standard likely to correctly classify the target condition?

( )

( )

( )

4.

Is the time period between reference standard and index test short enough to be reasonably sure that the target condition did not change between the two tests?

( )

( )

( )

5.

Did the whole sample or a random selection of the sample, receive verification using a reference standard of diagnosis?

( )

( )

( )

6.

Did patients receive the same reference standard regardless of the index test result?

( )

( )

( )

7.

Was the reference standard independent of the index test (i.e. the index test did not form part of the reference standard)?

( )

( )

( )

8.

Was the execution of the index test described in sufficient detail to permit replication of the test?

( )

( )

( )

9.

Was the execution of the reference standard described in sufficient detail to permit its replication?

( )

( )

( )

10.

Were the index test results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the reference standard?

( )

( )

( )

11.

Were the reference standard results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the index test?

( )

( )

( )

12.

Were the same clinical data available when test results were interpreted as would be available when the test is used in practice?

( )

( )

( )

13.

Were uninterpretable/ intermediate test results reported?

( )

( )

( )

14.

Were withdrawals from the study explained?

( )

( )

( )

Whiting et al. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2003 3:25   doi:10.1186/1471-2288-3-25