Working Group 3: Estimation of true disease prevalence with BLCMs

WG3 will focus on BLCM methods for estimating the true prevalence of disease by accounting for the imperfect Se and Sp of the diagnostic process.

These methods will capture the hierarchical structure of the data (i.e. they will estimate the prevalence at each level of data organisation).

In line with the work carried out in WG2 a review of existing BLCMs methods for true prevalence estimation will be followed by the identification of outstanding needs and the necessary modification to existing methods that is required to address these needs.

Training and dissemination activities of the updated BLCMs for true prevalence estimation will be carried out by WG3 in connection with WG5.

Tasks

• T3.1: Perform systematic review and evaluation of existing BLCMs for the estimation of the true disease prevalence. There will also be, wherever required, specific overview within distinct life-science domains.
• T3.2: Write up of technical reports/white papers about suitable methods for sound application of BLCMs for Se/Sp estimates in life sciences.
• T3.3: Develop training material for domain-expert scientists as well as methodologists in BMLCs.