If a test has high sensitivity but low specificity, what rule is emphasized?

If a test has high sensitivity but low specificity, what rule is emphasized?

• A. Negative result strongly argues against disease
• B. Positive result strongly argues against disease
• C. Negative result strongly argues for disease
• D. Positive result strongly argues for disease

Answer: (A)

A test with high sensitivity is strong at catching those who actually have the disease, so there are few false negatives. When the result is negative, this reliability means you can be reasonably confident the person does not have the disease, which is why negative results are used to rule out disease. With low specificity, a positive result isn’t trustworthy for concluding disease presence, since many positives could be false. So the statement that a negative result strongly argues against disease captures the practical rule for tests that are very sensitive.

A test with high sensitivity is strong at catching those who actually have the disease, so there are few false negatives. When the result is negative, this reliability means you can be reasonably confident the person does not have the disease, which is why negative results are used to rule out disease. With low specificity, a positive result isn’t trustworthy for concluding disease presence, since many positives could be false. So the statement that a negative result strongly argues against disease captures the practical rule for tests that are very sensitive.