Is precision different than accuracy?
Yes. Accuracy is the ability of a test to match the “real” value, as determined by a “gold standard” test. In bone densitometry, the gold standard is the ash weight of the skeletal site being tested. BMD testing is very precise and accurate compared to other tests commonly used in clinical practice, but precision and accuracy will vary according to the instrument used, the skeletal site being measured, and the skill of the technologist.
