As the PERCH evaluation progressed, the concepts derived from our deliberations were distilled into a list of desirable and essential attributes summarizing our strategy for evaluation ( Table 2 ). This list addressed issues such as assay performance (range of targets, acceptable specimen sources, sensitivity, and specificity), operational concerns (space requirements, assay throughput, quality assurance programs, maintenance requirements, and reagent availability), and strategic issues (capacity for automation, versatility and future utility, start-up and maintenance costs, and developer engagement). For additional input, we presented our summary to the Pneumonia Methods Working Group, an expert committee formed to advise PERCH. Ultimately, this outline of key qualities and data allowed us to articulate our thoughts and communicate our strategy more effectively to collaborators, advisors, and assay developers.