Editorial Process of Diagnostic Test Accuracy reviews

The editorial process and requirements for title registration of systematic reviews of DTA will be different from procedures for the intervention reviews. In addition to the normal peer process of the CRGs, the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Board (DTA EB) will also review:

• proposed titles for systematic Reviews of DTA (title registration form);
• protocols for a Cochrane Review of DTA;
• full text of the Cochrane Review of DTA.

According to the decision of the Cochrane Collaboration’s Steering Group a dual sign off by the CRG-coordinating editor and the DTA EB will be needed for all protocols and full text reviews on Diagnostic Test Accuracy. The editorial process is presented in a flow diagram and a step by step guide in which every step (action) of the CRG coordinator, review authors and the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Board is described.

Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Board
The members of the DTA editorial board will consist of methodologists, epidemiologists, statisticians and clinicians with knowledge of the methodology of diagnostic research, research synthesis of diagnostic test accuracy studies, and who are familiar with the content of the Cochrane Diagnostic Review author’s Handbook. The DTA EB reviews the title registration form in order to help authors to prepare their protocol, and prevent protocols from being rejected at the next stage. Contact persons for the DTA Editorial Board are Nynke Smidt (n.smidt@amc.uva.nl) and Theresa Moore (Theresa.moore1@birm.ac.uk).

Registration of titles
CRGs may register titles for DTA reviews from 1 November 2007. Please, note that a specific Title Registration Form for Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy reviews will be required and that all DTA title registration forms have to be reviewed by the DTA Editorial Board for approval before authors can go ahead with their protocol. As the conduct of the research synthesis of test evaluation is more complex than the research synthesis of intervention studies, The Cochrane Collaboration developed requirements for the review author team and the content of the title of the proposed review.