What does sensitivity refer to in disease testing?

Sensitivity in the context of disease testing specifically refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease, meaning it measures the proportion of true positives among those who actually have the condition. When a test is said to have high sensitivity, it effectively "rules in" the presence of a disease, indicating that very few individuals who have the disease will receive a false negative result.

This characteristic is crucial in screening processes, where the goal is often to detect a condition early and accurately. A highly sensitive test is especially important when the disease in question has significant health implications, as it helps ensure that most cases are identified and not missed, thus allowing for timely intervention and treatment.

Understanding sensitivity is vital for health professionals, as it not only aids in the selection of appropriate tests but also in interpreting their results in a clinical setting. In contrast to sensitivity, specificity deals with correctly identifying those without the disease, and other options like minimum criteria for diagnosis and accuracy of positive results do not directly define the concept of sensitivity in the context of disease testing.