Biostatistics and Epidemiology for the Toxicologist: Likelihood Ratios

J Med Toxicol. 2024 Oct;20(4):411-415. doi: 10.1007/s13181-024-01026-9. Epub 2024 Aug 23.

Abstract

Likelihood ratios compare two values (i.e., case rates) in order to illustrate the magnitude of the difference between the two. This ratio increases the confidence one can have in a diagnostic test from a different vantage point than that of sensitivity and specificity. The calculations of likelihood ratios are presented along with a simplified approach. Likelihood ratios are another tool the toxicologist should employ in their understanding of statistics and probability.

Keywords: Bayes Theorem; Likelihood Ratio; Probability.

MeSH terms

  • Biostatistics* / methods
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Probability
  • Toxicology*