ArticleArchives of disease in childhood2023
Trends in diagnostic tests ordered for children: a retrospective analysis of 1.7 million laboratory test requests in Oxfordshire, UK from 2005 to 2019.
Article in Archives of disease in childhood, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Children and young people tested for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency at a busy children's emergency department in Birmingham, UK: an observational study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Observational
- Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Tests to Diagnose Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults and Children: Systematic Review.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Uncoupling investigation and diagnosis from management: at the heart of the art of paediatric clinical practice?BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- Coeliac disease: complications and comorbidities.Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2025Review
- Temporal trends and practice variation of paediatric diagnostic tests in primary care: retrospective analysis of 14 million tests.Family medicine and community health · 2024Article
- GPs' perspectives on diagnostic tests for children: a qualitative interview study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
objectiveTo better understand testing patterns in children, we measured temporal trends in paediatric testing from 2005 to 2019 in Oxfordshire, UK.
designDescriptive study of population-based secondary data.
settingOxfordshire University Hospitals National Health Service Trust laboratories.
participantsChildren aged 0-15 years in Oxfordshire who received at least one blood test.
main outcome measuresWe estimated average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in test use using joinpoint regression models. Temporal changes in age-adjusted rates in test use were calculated overall and stratified by healthcare setting, sex, and age.
resultsBetween 2005 and 2019, 1 749 425 tests were performed among 113 607 children. Overall test use declined until 2012, when test rates appeared to increase (AAPC 1.5%, 95% CI -0.8% to 3.9%). Most tests were performed in inpatient settings, where testing rates stayed steady (AAPC -0.6%, 95% CI -2.1% to 0.9%). Increases were highest in females, those aged 6-15 years and in the outpatient setting. The greatest increase in testing was for vitamin D (AAPC 26.5%), followed by parathyroid hormone (9.8%), iron studies (9.3%), folate (8.4%), vitamin B
conclusionsAfter an initial decline, laboratory test use by children in Oxfordshire demonstrated an apparent increase since 2012. Test use increased in outpatient and general practice settings, however remained steady in inpatient settings. Further research should examine the root causes and implications for test increases, and whether these increases are warranted. We encourage clinicians to consider the individual and systemic implications of performing blood tests in children.
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