Library of risk of bias tools

QAREL

Study design(s) targeted by the tool Diagnostic reliabilitydiagnostic-reliability
Additional details on designs NA
Tool area Health
Link to the tool Access the paper reporting the QAREL tool

Details

Website
Primary publication Lucas N, Macaskill P, Irwig L, Bogduk N. The development of a quality appraisal tool for studies of diagnostic reliability (QAREL). J Clin Epidemiol. 2010;63(8):854-61.
DOI 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.10.002
Guidance document
Training

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any training that should be listed here.

Language English
Translations

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any translations that should be listed here.

Record last updated 05/06/2026

Related tools and Publications

Previous versions

None

Updated versions

None

Related tools

None

Evaluations

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any evaluations that should be listed here.

Other publications

None known – please contact us if you are aware of any publications that should be listed here.

Key Criteria

Focuses on risk of bias, or makes a distinction between items that assess risk of bias and other aspects of study quality Yes
Offers a method to reach either a domain specific or overall assessment of risk of bias Yes
Tool developed for use across topic areas (i.e. not developed for specific clinical area such as physiotherapy or dentistry) No
Avoids recommending use of summary numerical quality scores Yes