AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/sensitivity-specificity
Sensitivity vs specificity
Sensitivity is the share of people with a condition whom a test correctly identifies. Specificity is the share without it whom the test correctly identifies.
Summary
- Sensitivity is the proportion of people with the disease who are correctly identified by the test.
- Specificity is the proportion of people without the disease who are correctly identified by the test.
- For example, a test with a sensitivity of 90 per cent finds nine in every ten people who have the condition. The tenth gets a false negative result, a missed case.
- A test with low specificity gives more false positive results, which are false alarms. Every screening programme produces some of both.
Interview questions
- Why is no medical test perfect?
- A patient's test comes back positive. Does that mean they have the disease?
- Would you rather use a test that misses fewer cases or one that gives fewer false alarms?
Sources
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