Screening efficiency of the Hardy–Rand–Rittler (HRR) colour test (4th edn)

Abstract

This study evaluates the screening efficiency of the Hardy–Rand–Rittler (HRR) 4th edition colour test. This test was also compared with results from the Ishihara test. Thirty-nine subjects with congenital red–green deficiency and 120 colour normal subjects participated in the study. The subjects were shown the Ishihara (concise version, 2001) and the HRR (4th edn) pseudoisochromatic plates. Each plate was viewed for 3 s. A Macbeth Easel lamp was used for illumination (70 foot-candle). The HRR test had 100% sensitivity and the specificity was 63%. The overall efficiency of the HRR test was less than that of the Ishihara. The results also indicated that plate seven of HRR (4th edn) has poor screening efficiency. Thus the HRR is good for identifying colour deficient subjects but a caveat is that it fails too many normals.