Box 1. Characteristics of the ideal diagnostic test for the developing world: ASSURED
From the following article:
Requirements for high impact diagnostics in the developing world
Mickey Urdea, Laura A. Penny, Stuart S. Olmsted, Maria Y. Giovanni, Peter Kaspar, Andrew Shepherd, Penny Wilson, Carol A. Dahl, Steven Buchsbaum, Gerry Moeller and Deborah C. Hay Burgess
Nature 444, 73-79(23 November 2006)
doi:10.1038/nature05448
- Affordable by those at risk of infection.
- Sensitive (few false-negative results).
- Specific (few false-positive results).
- User-friendly (simple to perform by persons with little training).
- Rapid treatment at the first visit and robust use without the need for special storage.
- Equipment-free (that is, no large electricity-dependent instruments needed to perform the test; note that portable handheld battery-operated devices are acceptable, which differs from the criterion of the original authors).
- Delivered to those who need it