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In medical practice, as in any clinical investigation, a correct classification of patients or study subjects is usually required for health assessment, evaluation of disease or clinical staging purposes. This classification is usually undertaken using one or more diagnostic tests. A diagnostic test may be understood as any study or intervention that will result in a variable or set of variables that may help gain better knowledge of the health of the patient1. Obviously, although the results originate from so-called diagnostic tests, they do not always have diagnostic relevance. Diagnostic tests may also have therapeutic effects2 or may be useful as prognostic elements3. For instance, creatine kinase measurement is used for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, but it also provides information about the extent of myocardial damage and the prognosis of the disease4. |
