Sensitivity measures?

Sensitivity measures?

• A. The proportion of people who correctly test positive when screened
• B. The proportion of healthy individuals who test negative
• C. The test cost
• D. Time to obtain results

Answer: (A)

Sensitivity is the test’s ability to correctly identify those who have the disease. It is the proportion of people with the disease who test positive, calculated as true positives divided by all people who actually have the disease. A test with high sensitivity catches most true cases, minimizing false negatives, which is crucial in screening to avoid missing individuals who need care. The phrase “proportion of people who correctly test positive when screened” matches this idea, since it focuses on identifying the diseased group. The other ideas describe different aspects: the proportion of healthy individuals who test negative is about specificity, not sensitivity; and cost or time to obtain results are practical considerations related to the test’s feasibility, not its sensitivity.

Sensitivity is the test’s ability to correctly identify those who have the disease. It is the proportion of people with the disease who test positive, calculated as true positives divided by all people who actually have the disease. A test with high sensitivity catches most true cases, minimizing false negatives, which is crucial in screening to avoid missing individuals who need care. The phrase “proportion of people who correctly test positive when screened” matches this idea, since it focuses on identifying the diseased group.

The other ideas describe different aspects: the proportion of healthy individuals who test negative is about specificity, not sensitivity; and cost or time to obtain results are practical considerations related to the test’s feasibility, not its sensitivity.