Pre- and post-test probability: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}

'''Pre-test probability''' and '''post-test probability''' (alternatively spelled pretest and posttest probability) are the [[probabilities]] of the presence of a condition (such as a [[disease]]) before and after a [[diagnostic test]], respectively. ''Post-test probability'', in turn, can be ''positive'' or ''negative'', depending on whether the test falls out as a [[positive test]]|positive test or a [[negative test]], respectively. In some cases, it is used for the probability of developing the condition of interest in the future.

Test, in this sense, can refer to any [[medical test]] (but usually in the sense of diagnostic tests), and in a broad sense also including questions and even assumptions (such as assuming that the target individual is a female or male). The ability to make a difference between pre- and post-test probabilities of various conditions is a major factor in the [[Medical test#Indications|indication of medical tests]].