Advanced
Technical
IVT
referral threshold
The predetermined analyte concentration above which infants are referred for diagnostic evaluation.
Full Definition
Referral threshold represents the statistically derived cutoff value that triggers referral of screened infants to specialists for confirmatory diagnostic testing and clinical evaluation. These thresholds are carefully established to balance screening sensitivity (detecting affected infants) with positive predictive value (minimizing false positives), and may be adjusted based on population characteristics, analytical performance, and clinical outcomes data.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from analytical cutoffs and quality control limits when editing technical documents.
In Context
- "The program lowered the referral threshold for IRT after identifying missed cases of cystic fibrosis." — Policy revision notice
- "Statistical analysis supported maintaining the current referral threshold despite concerns about false positive rates." — Program review meeting
Also known as
action level
referral cutoff
Don't confuse with
detection limit
normal range