Gold standard (test)

In medicine and medical statistics, the gold standard, criterion standard, or reference standard is the diagnostic test or benchmark that is the best available under reasonable conditions. It is the test against which new tests are compared to gauge their validity, and it is used to evaluate the efficacy of treatments.

For tests performed on actual gold, see Metallurgical assay. For other uses, see Gold standard (disambiguation).

The meanings may differ between practical medicine and the statistical ideal because, in medicine with some conditions, only an autopsy guarantees diagnostic certainty, thus the gold standard test would be the best one that keeps the patient alive instead of the autopsy. In these cases, even so-called "gold standard" tests require follow-up to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

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