Quality Assurance Data/Statistical Correlations
Eva M. Jehle, MD, MBA, Director of Medical Business
Life Line Screening
Subjects and Methods
Our study population consisted of 238 carotid artery screening participants. We obtained medical release forms from 146 people with "positive" screening results and obtained diagnostic ultrasound/arteriogram follow-up reports on these individuals to compare against our screening studies. At the same time, an independent vascular lab was paid to perform complete diagnostic ultrasound studies on 92 individuals who had "negative" screening results. Individuals with disease greater than 60% by diagnostic testing (preferably arteriogram studies) were defined as positive. Individuals with disease less than 60% by diagnostic studies were defined as negative.
Results
The results of this effort indicate the following:
Sensitivity - 100%
Specificity - 94%
Positive Predictive Value - 95%
Negative Predictive Value - 100%
Non-invasive studies that correlate with the gold standard 90% or more of the time are very good. Certainly these statistics compare very favorably with those of high quality non-invasive vascular laboratories across the USA.
