What does sensitivity measure in serology testing?

Prepare for the VisionFirst CEBT Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice quizzes, each offering hints and detailed explanations for optimized learning. Excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

What does sensitivity measure in serology testing?

Sensitivity is the true positive rate: the probability that the test is positive among people who truly have the condition (e.g., have antibodies in serology). In other words, it measures how well the test detects positives among those who are truly positive. If 100 infected individuals are tested and 90 yield positive results, the sensitivity is 90%, showing how effectively the test avoids missing cases (fewer false negatives). The other options describe different concepts: a positive result among truly negative individuals is a false positive result, the probability of a negative result among truly positive individuals is the false negative rate, and overall diagnostic accuracy combines correct positives and negatives but is not the same as sensitivity.

Sensitivity is the true positive rate: the probability that the test is positive among people who truly have the condition (e.g., have antibodies in serology). In other words, it measures how well the test detects positives among those who are truly positive. If 100 infected individuals are tested and 90 yield positive results, the sensitivity is 90%, showing how effectively the test avoids missing cases (fewer false negatives). The other options describe different concepts: a positive result among truly negative individuals is a false positive result, the probability of a negative result among truly positive individuals is the false negative rate, and overall diagnostic accuracy combines correct positives and negatives but is not the same as sensitivity.

More practice questions