Table 1.

Comparison of CPADs and CPGs

Key feature	CPADs	CPGs
State of field and testing technology	Early in assessment of the field and testing technology	Later in assessment of the field and testing technology
State of the evidence	Insufficient evidence to evaluate benefits and harms of testing	Sufficient evidence to evaluate benefits and harms of testing
Product(s)	(1) Advice for clinicians based largely on expert judgment about the potential benefits and harms of testing, the uncertainties in current evidence, and the trade-offs for different approaches (2) Recommendations for research to improve clinical test use	Recommendations for clinical practice based on evaluation of the evidence, with strength of recommendations determined by quality of evidence
Updating	Annual review of relevant evidence with revision of CPAD or decision to proceed to CPG	Appropriate plan for updating, as determined after CPG development

CPAD clinical practice advisory document, CPG clinical practice guideline.