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Developing and interpreting models to improve diagnostics in developing countries

Developing a strategy for investment in diagnostic technologies requires an understanding of the need for, and the health impact of, potential new tools, as well as the necessary performance characteristics and user requirements. In this paper, we outline an approach for modelling the health benefits of new diagnostic tools.

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Figure 1: Probability tree.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank A. Noriega-Minichiello (World Health Organization, Switzerland). The authors also thank L. Lu (Roche Diagnostics, USA for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

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Correspondence to Federico Girosi.

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Girosi, F., Olmsted, S., Keeler, E. et al. Developing and interpreting models to improve diagnostics in developing countries. Nature 444 (Suppl 1), 3–8 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05441

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