What is the difference between sensitivity and specificity in medical testing?

What is the difference between sensitivity and specificity in medical testing?

Sensitivity refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate), while specificity refers to the ability to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate).

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! For example, a highly sensitive test for a disease will catch most patients who have it, but may also produce false positives. A highly specific test will accurately identify those who do not have the disease, but might miss some cases.

Why is it important to understand both metrics?

Understanding both sensitivity and specificity helps healthcare professionals choose the right tests for diagnosis and treatment, balancing the risks of false positives and negatives.

How do these concepts apply to screening tests?

In screening tests, high sensitivity is often prioritized to ensure that most cases are detected, even if it means some false positives occur.