Response to Bansal and Schwartz

Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: We thank Dr. Bansal and Dr. Schwartz for their interest in our study. We used the stratum-specific likelihood ratio method described by Peirce and Cornell in an exploratory analysis to determine the optimum cutoff for serum ferritin, and not simply to compute a likelihood ratio for ferritin > 100 ng/mL (1). Therefore, only stratum-specific likelihood ratio was defined in the methods section of the article (2). In our experience, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value are better comprehended by patients when discussing risks and benefits of a diagnostic test. These are reported in Table 5 of the article (2).