Model Estimates of Sensitivity for Influenza A Testing as Reported to the RVDSS, by Influenza Season.

Note: Estimates of sensitivity by influenza season were obtained by estimating separate β5,y parameters, one for each season. Noting that the null value for sensitivity is 100%, as 100% sensitivity implies that there should no association between the number of influenza negative and influenza positive tests, the season specific estimates appear to be reasonably consistent. Season specific differences in the estimated sensitivity may be due to irregular reporting and the tendency of data irregularities to bias the model parameters β5,y towards the null, or sensitivity towards 1. A value of 100% for sensitivity implies that there is no association between the number of influenza negative and influenza positive tests. The 2000/01 and 2002/03 season estimates (both H1N1/B seasons) were uninformative. This lack of statistical significance and wide confidence intervals were attributed to the relatively small number of influenza A positive specimens in these two H1N1 seasons. A shift in influenza A confirmations towards younger ages was noted during the H1N1 seasons. Testing a larger proportion of children may result in an improvement in the overall test sensitivity.
ns: Not statistically significant. The null value for sensitivity is 100%. With 100% sensitivity no association between the number of influenza negative and influenza positive tests would be expected.
n/a: Not available. Estimate was out of range and not statistically significant.

注：各流感季的检测敏感性（sensitivity）估计值通过分别拟合各季专属的模型参数β_{5,y}得到。需注意，敏感性的零假设值为100%：当敏感性为100%时，流感阴性检测数与阳性检测数之间不应存在关联，因此各季的敏感性估计值表现出较好的一致性。各季估计的敏感性存在差异，这可能源于报告不规范，以及数据异常会使模型参数β_{5,y}向零假设值偏移，或使敏感性向1偏移。敏感性为100%意味着流感阴性与阳性检测数之间无关联。2000/01季与2002/03季（均为H1N1/B型流感季）的估计结果无信息价值。这种统计学显著性缺失以及置信区间过宽的情况，可归因于这两个H1N1流感季中甲型流感阳性标本量相对较少。研究期间观察到，H1N1流感季的甲型流感确诊病例呈现向低龄群体转移的趋势。若对更大比例的儿童进行检测，或可提升整体检测敏感性。
ns：无统计学显著性。敏感性的零假设值为100%；若敏感性为100%，则预期流感阴性与阳性检测数之间无关联。
n/a：无有效数据。估计值超出合理范围且无统计学显著性。