Insights Probabilistic Factors Involved in Disease and Virus Testing

AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights the complexity of disease and virus testing, emphasizing the importance of understanding probabilistic factors involved in test results. Key concepts include the analysis of prevalence and its impact on predictive values, specifically Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV). There is a suggestion for incorporating graphs to visually represent how PPV and NPV vary with different prevalence rates, which would enhance comprehension of the statistical relationships at play. The conversation underscores the necessity of clear visual aids to effectively communicate these intricate concepts.
PeroK
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Insights Author
Gold Member
2024 Award
Messages
29,172
Reaction score
20,820
Last edited by a moderator:
Reply
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes DaveE, Choppy, Astronuc and 5 others
Very interesting, who knew testing was so complex!
 
Nice writeup!
I think a couple of graphs would be useful though, like the PPV/NPV as a function of prevalence for a couple of values of p/q, to really drive the message home.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes jim mcnamara

Thread 'Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)'

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-dysmorphia/ Most people have some mild apprehension about their body, such as one thinks their nose is too big, hair too straight or curvy. At the extreme, cases such as this, are difficult to completely understand. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/why-would-someone-want-to-amputate-healthy-limbs/ar-AA1MrQK7?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=68ce4014b1fe4953b0b4bd22ef471ab9&ei=78 they feel like they're an amputee in the body of a regular person "For...
View full post »
Thread 'Did they discover another descendant of homo erectus?'

Thread 'Did they discover another descendant of homo erectus?'

The study provides critical new insights into the African Humid Period, a time between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago when the Sahara desert was a green savanna, rich in water bodies that facilitated human habitation and the spread of pastoralism. Later aridification turned this region into the world's largest desert. Due to the extreme aridity of the region today, DNA preservation is poor, making this pioneering ancient DNA study all the more significant. Genomic analyses reveal that the...
View full post »

Thread 'Warning of new opiod drug (nitazene) on the streets: Question re strength...'

Whenever these opiods are mentioned they usually mention that e.g. fentanyl is "50 times stronger than heroin" and "100 times stronger than morphine". Now it's nitazene which the public is told is everything from "much stronger than heroin" and "200 times stronger than fentany"! Do these numbers make sense at all? How do they arrive at them? Kill thousands of mice? En passant: nitazene have already been found in both Oxycontin pills and in street "heroin" here, so Naloxone is more...
View full post »

Similar threads

Tanzania, Deadly outbreak, unknown disease (Ebola-like, hemorrhagic virus?)
Replies
1
Views
1K
Powassan virus on the rise in the US?
Replies
2
Views
2K
COVID Which animals have been infected by SARS-CoV-2?
Replies
2
Views
1K
Chagas disease now established in US
Replies
1
Views
174
COVID Understanding COVID Quarantine Guidance
Replies
2
Views
3K
Tick-borne diseases - recent increases in cases
Replies
8
Views
2K
Testing a population for Coronavirus - Minimizing the number of tests
Replies
14
Views
2K
Current disease events in wildlife and domestic animals
Replies
7
Views
2K
Antonine Plague - small pox + measles, or hemorrhagic virus/bacterium?
Replies
8
Views
5K
COVID Covid-19 virus disinfectant question -- Any aerosol options?
Replies
24
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top