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Purpose of investigation: Difference between revisions
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Consider that many laboratories can analyse a pharyngeal swab for specific airway viruses. Would making such an investigation in this case change the management of the patient? In most cases no, as there is no specific treatment for most airway viruses anyway. | Consider that many laboratories can analyse a pharyngeal swab for specific airway viruses. Would making such an investigation in this case change the management of the patient? In most cases no, as there is no specific treatment for most airway viruses anyway. | ||
== Diagnosis == | == Diagnosis == | ||
When an investigation is ordered for diagnosis, one should already have a list of differential diagnoses before ordering the test, and the test should be able to narrow down the list of differential diagnoses. It's important to consider the test's specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in this. There is no reason to perform an investigation if it doesn't help narrow down the number of differential diagnoses or doesn't validate your tentative diagnosis. | When an investigation is ordered for diagnosis, one should already have a list of differential diagnoses before ordering the test, and the test should be able to narrow down the list of differential diagnoses. It's important to consider the test's [[specificity]], [[sensitivity]], [[positive predictive value]], and [[negative predictive value]] in this. There is no reason to perform an investigation if it doesn't help narrow down the number of differential diagnoses or doesn't validate your tentative diagnosis. | ||
=== Approach to diagnosis === | === Approach to diagnosis === | ||