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Australia

"Liver test could save lives"

Source: Sky News

Published: 30 Aug 2012

Category: Diagnostic Test

Rating: (1 stars)

Keywords: liver disease test

what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

A new 'traffic light' test could make it easier for doctors to diagnose liver disease early on and save lives.

The original article can be found at: http://www.skynews.com.au/health/article.aspx?id=789465

how did it rate? (more information)

Criteria	Rating
Total Score	1 of 9
Availability of Test	Not Satisfactory (?)
Novelty of Test	Not Satisfactory (?)
Diagnostic Options	Not Satisfactory (?)
Disease Mongering	Satisfactory (?)
Evidence	Not Satisfactory (?)
Quantification of diagnostic accuracy and benefits	Not Satisfactory (?)
Potential harms of Testing	Not Satisfactory (?)
Costs of Testing	Not Satisfactory (?)
Sources of Information	Not Satisfactory (?)
Relies on Press Release	Not Applicable

what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This story conceals more than it reveals. Apart from the fact that the output is colour coded like traffic lights, it tells us nothing about the test. What does it measure? Is it a blood test, a liver biopsy, a sniffer dog or done by iridology? What was it compared to? How accurate is it? Who were the 1000 patients?

The expert comment by Gilmore is incorrect once transplanted to an Australian news site, as he says "liver disease is rising dramatically in 'this' country". Gilmore is UK hepatologist and commentator on alcohol issues in the UK so the comment probably refers to the UK rather than Australia.

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