Table 1 QUADAS and scoring guide for each of the 5 schemes

1

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

1

2

2

3

10

2

Were selection criteria clearly described?

1

2

1

1

2

3

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

1

2

3

2

10

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?

1

2

3

1

6

5

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

1

2

3

3

9

6

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

1

2

3

2

7

7

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

1

2

3

1

7

8

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

1

2

2

1

3

9

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

1

2

2

1

2

10

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

1

2

3

3

8

11

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

1

2

3

3

6

12

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

1

2

3

3

5

13

Were uninterpretable/ intermediate test results reported?

1

2

1

1

4

14

Were withdrawals from the study explained?

1

2

1

1

3

Total score

14

28

33

26

85