How this library is made

Who writes it

The library is written by Shane Tompson, physiotherapist (Master of Physiotherapy, Griffith University), with over 20 years in clinical practice. He is also the author of Rule It In, Rule It Out, a handbook of musculoskeletal examination due out in late 2026. The pages are drafted with AI assistance, and every figure is checked against its source wherever the paper can be obtained. Trokos is a registered business name of The Trustee for Tompson Trust.

Where the figures come from

• Each test page gives the published accuracy figures that exist for it: sensitivity and specificity, and likelihood ratios either as the study published them or calculated from its sensitivity and specificity. The page says which. Some tests have too few published figures to judge, and their pages say that too.
• The source is cited in full on the page, with a link to the study, and labelled by type (a single study, a systematic review or a meta-analysis).
• Most tests are the ones covered in the book, and their pages are kept in step with it. Pages marked website only were added to the library and are not in the book.

How the figures are checked

• Each figure is checked against its source study, in a separate check, wherever the full paper can be obtained.
• Where only the abstract could be checked, or a figure has not yet been checked against the full paper, the page says so.
• Where the study behind a figure is weak (for example, very few patients, or patients unlike those seen in first-contact practice), the page carries a caution.
• Each test page has a Study details panel giving the patients studied, the setting, what the test was compared against, 95% confidence intervals and what was read. The full method is on the Methods page.

How to read the verdicts

The verdict at the top of each page uses the likelihood ratios only: an LR+ of 5 or more is shown as useful for ruling in, and an LR− below 0.2 as useful for ruling out. Where the study behind the figures is weak, a caution is shown and may replace the verdict. The figures describe groups of patients in the studies, many of them surgical or specialist populations, not the person in front of you. Most come from a single study. See How to read these pages and the probability calculator for more.

Keeping it up to date

• Each page shows when its figures were last updated.
• When a newer or better study changes a figure, the page is updated.
• Corrections to the library and the book are listed on the corrections page.
• If you have any feedback, please get in touch. We're happy to add to or improve the special tests library.

Independence and funding

• The library is free, needs no login, and is funded by Trokos. There is no third-party advertising or sponsorship.
• The pages promote the author's book, Rule It In, Rule It Out, and the free Rule It In newsletter, both from Trokos.
• The newsletter and book launch-list sign-ups are optional and are provided by Kit. The site sets no cookies of its own and runs no analytics service. Our host keeps standard server logs, which we use only to see overall visits and to keep the site secure. See Privacy.

Who it is for

The library is written for registered health practitioners and students. It is a teaching and reference aid, not clinical advice.