Det kliniske forløb som facitliste for en diagnostisk test.

Investigations assessing the predictive value of diagnostic tests are rarely performed. Several factors may contribute to this matter. Firstly, a diagnostic key is required, secondly a pathoanatomic examination is most often regarded as the true diagnostic key and thirdly, when this demand cannot be met clinical syndromes are created. However, a prediction of the clinical course is of major value to the physician compared to a pathoanatomic diagnosis. Together with the paraclinical data, the clinical course may comprise the diagnostic key in assessing diagnostic probabilities or "probabilities of a certain clinical course", i e the actual predictive probabilities.