term diagnostic criteria designates a case definition with a specific combination of signs, symptoms, and test results that the clinician uses to attempt to determine the correct diagnosis. Some examples of diagnostic criteria are: Amsterdam criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer McDonald criteria for multiple sclerosis ACR criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus Centor criteria for strep throat Clinical definitions When diagnostic criteria are universally accepted they can be considered a "clinical definition" because they define the limits of the affected population, determining which patients are inside and outside of the set. A clinical definition should be regarded as a statistical analysis tool, and not a substitute for a pathological definition when this is required. Posthumous diagnosis allows to establish the sensitivity and specificity of the clinical definitions. See also Public Health Epidemiology Outbreak Sensitivity and specificity Diagnostic criteria References Epidemiology