Test sensitivity Definition - Microbiology Key Term

Definition

Test sensitivity measures the proportion of actual positives correctly identified by a diagnostic test. High sensitivity means fewer false negatives.

Test sensitivity is crucial for detecting diseases in their early stages.
A highly sensitive test can still produce false positives but rarely misses true positives.
Sensitivity is calculated as: Sensitivity = (True Positives) / (True Positives + False Negatives).
In antibody production, high sensitivity ensures that even low concentrations of antibodies are detected.
Improving test sensitivity often involves optimizing assay conditions and using high-affinity reagents.

The ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those without the disease.

False Positive: A test result which indicates that a person has a specific disease or condition when they actually do not.

False Negative: A result that appears negative when it should be positive, indicating a failure to detect an existing condition.