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Diagnostic Test Sensitivity — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateCommunity Dentistry & EpidemiologyDiagnostic Test SensitivityNDEB AFK

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'sensitivity' of a diagnostic test?

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Correct answer: D — The ability to correctly identify those with the disease (true positives)

Sensitivity (also called the true positive rate) is the proportion of individuals with the disease who are correctly identified as positive by the test: TP/(TP+FN). A highly sensitive test has few false negatives and is useful for ruling out disease (SnNout: Sensitivity rules out). Specificity is the proportion of disease-free individuals correctly identified as negative: TN/(TN+FP).

Reference: Burt & Eklund – Dentistry, Dental Practice, and the Community, 7th ed., 2005