Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of laboratory medicine by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling more personalized care. Given its growing use in clinical settings, evaluating the performance of AI models in diagnostic tasks is essential to inform evidence-based implementation strategies. This meta-analysis systematically assessed the diagnostic effectiveness of AI-based models. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore using predefined keywords related to AI and diagnostic accuracy. From 430 retrieved studies, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Data extracted included study design, AI model type, input modality, and performance metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). Random-effects meta-analysis and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate heterogeneity and model-specific trends. The pooled analysis yielded a high combined AUC of 0.9025, indicating strong diagnostic capability of AI models. However, substantial heterogeneity was detected (I2 = 91.01%), attributed to differences in model architecture, diagnostic domains, and data quality. Subgroup analyses showed that convolutional neural networks and random forest models achieved higher AUC values, while domains like endocrinology demonstrated greater performance variability. Funnel plot inspection and sensitivity analysis indicated the presence of publication bias. AI shows strong potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy in personalized laboratory medicine. Nonetheless, methodological heterogeneity and publication bias remain significant challenges. Future research should prioritize standardized evaluation frameworks, transparency, and the development of explainable AI systems to ensure responsible clinical integration.
Daemi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: