Method for quantifying the extent of human-introduced variability in medical test data

Abstract

A method for quantifying the extent of human-introduced variability in medical test data relative to one or more standards for comparable medical tests, the method comprising the following steps: providing user medical test data; comparing the user medical test data against one or more standards for comparable medical tests to determine the extent of deviation of the user medical test data from the one or more standards; and generating a variability-value corresponding to the maximum absolute percentage deviation of the user medical test data from the one or more standards over a predefined operating range of values for the one or more standards.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for quantifying the extent of human-introduced variability in medical test data relative to one or more standards for comparable medical tests, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing user medical test data stored in a computer-readable storage medium;   comparing the user medical test data against one or more standards for comparable medical tests and determining the extent of deviation of the user medical test data from the one or more standards; and   generating a variability-value corresponding to the maximum absolute percentage deviation of the user medical test data from the one or more standards over a predefined operating range of values for the one or more standards.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of correcting the user medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the user medical test data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the user medical test data comprise one or more of fetal nuchal translucency measurements, maternal serum PAPP-A measurements, and free β-hCG measurements. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of correcting the user medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the user medical test data. 
     
     
         22 . A method for quantifying the extent of human-introduced variability in medical tests, comprising the following steps:
 providing medical test data submitted by one or more subscribers, the medical test data stored in a computer-readable storage medium;   comparing each subscriber's medical test data against one or more standards for comparable medical tests and determining the extent of deviation of each subscriber's medical test data from the one or more standards; and   generating a subscriber-specific variability-value corresponding to the maximum absolute percentage deviation of the subscriber's medical test data from the one or more standards over a predefined operating range of values for the one or more standards; and   providing the subscriber-specific variability value to at least the subscriber.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of correcting each subscriber's medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the subscriber's medical test data. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more standards are based upon average medical test results derived from the medical test data submitted by the one or more subscribers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the user medical test data comprise one or more of fetal nuchal translucency measurements, maternal serum PAPP-A measurements, and free β-hCG measurements. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of correcting each subscriber's medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the subscriber's medical test data. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more standards are based upon average medical test results derived from the medical test data submitted by the one or more subscribers. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more standards are based upon average medical test results derived from the medical test data submitted by the one or more subscribers. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein, in the absence of historical medical test data for any one or more subscribers, each such one or more subscribers is provided with an initial variability value. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the initial variability value is neutral, thereby having no impact in the step of correcting each subscriber's medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the subscriber's medical test data. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the initial variability value provided to each such subscriber is a predetermined value based on the further process step of credentialing the subscriber. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the credentialing step comprises subjecting the subscriber to mock medical tests to generate the medical test data submitted by the subscriber. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of correcting each subscriber's medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the subscriber's medical test data comprises weighting a subscriber's medical test data by a value corresponding to that subscriber's subscriber-specific variability values. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the steps of storing medical test data in a computer-readable storage medium, comparing each subscriber's medical test data against one or more standards for comparable medical tests and determining the extent of deviation of each subscriber's medical test data from the one or more standards, generating a subscriber-specific variability-value, and providing the subscriber-specific variability value to at least the subscriber are all performed by a system manager, and the step of providing the medical test data is performed by the one or more subscribers. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the steps of storing medical test data in a computer-readable storage medium, comparing each subscriber's medical test data against one or more standards for comparable medical tests and determining the extent of deviation of each subscriber's medical test data from the one or more standards, generating a subscriber-specific variability-value, providing the subscriber-specific variability value to at least the subscriber, and correcting each subscriber's medical test data by the extent of deviation from the one or more standards determined for the subscriber's medical test data are all performed by a system manager, and the step of providing the medical test data is performed by the one or more subscribers. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the method is implemented over a computer network in which the system manager comprises one or more computers.