Table 2 Reasons for ordering laboratory tests and pretest probability estimates
Reason for ordering lab tests | N = 1147 (16 missing) |
   reassure patient | 226 (20%) |
   exclude disease | 708 (62%) |
   confirm diagnosis | 213 (19%) |
Estimate of pretest disease probability | N = 1138 (25 missing) |
   definitely no disease | 114 (10%) |
   probably no disease | 377 (33%) |
   maybe | 329 (29%) |
   probably disease | 252 (22%) |
   definitely disease | 66 (6%) |