Generalization of the receiver-operating characteristic curve to determine the normal hemoglobin range cutoff points in pregnant women.

Abstract

Identification of a normal range for biomarkers, based on pregnancy outcomes (caused by their high or low values) is of special importance in clinical studies. As some pregnancy outcomes can happen in both high and low levels of biomarkers, the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve is unsuitable for identifying these levels separately; rather, a statistical method is preferable which identifies both levels simultaneously.