How should we select test-negative controls? A causal perspective in the era of multiplex respiratory testing
多重呼吸道检测时代如何选择检测阴性对照:因果视角
The test-negative design (TND) is widely used to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) for respiratory pathogens by comparing vaccination odds among test-positive cases versus test-negative controls. A central yet underexplored design element is which test-negative illnesses constitute valid controls. With rapid multiplex PCR panels, investigators can now identify specific non-focal pathogens among test-negative patients, allowing for better characterization of ``test-negative…