confirmatory

Confirmatory is an adjective describing evidence, tests, or analyses that aim to establish the truth of a prior claim or finding. It is used in scientific, clinical, and analytical contexts to distinguish verification from exploratory or screening work.

In research, confirmatory work relies on pre-specified hypotheses, planned analyses, and controls for error rates. This approach seeks to provide robust, replicable conclusions and is typically contrasted with exploratory analysis, which investigates data without predetermined expectations.

In statistics and measurement, confirmatory factor analysis tests whether observed variables fit a hypothesized factor structure. CFA requires an a priori model specification, with theory guiding which items load on which factors, and relies on fit indices to assess model adequacy.

In analytical chemistry and clinical testing, confirmatory testing follows initial screening tests. They use more specific, often instrumental methods to verify the identity or presence of a substance or condition, for example GC-MS or LC-MS in chemistry, and confirmatory immunoassays, sequencing, or PCR in medicine.

In drug development, confirmatory trials are designed to test prespecified endpoints and statistical hypotheses, typically in later-phase studies, to provide definitive evidence for regulatory approval.

Confirmatory testing and analyses are also applied in genetics, forensics, and related fields to support decisions with greater certainty.