“Sensitivity” and “Specificity” Reconsidered: The Meaning of These Terms in Analytical and Diagnostic Settings

Medical Writings1 January 1997“Sensitivity” and “Specificity” Reconsidered: The Meaning of These Terms in Analytical and Diagnostic SettingsAlfred J. Saah, MD, MPH and Donald R. Hoover, PhD, MPHAlfred J. Saah, MD, MPHFrom the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.Search for more papers by this author and Donald R. Hoover, PhD, MPHFrom the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-126-1-199701010-00026 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Imprecise usage of the terms “sensitivity” and “specificity” produces confusion in the diagnostic use of sophisticated laboratory test results.“Analytical sensitivity” represents the smallest amount of substance in a sample that can accurately be measured by an assay. “Analytical specificity” refers to the ability of an assay to measure one particular organism or substance, rather than others, in a sample. An assay's analytical sensitivity and analytical specificity are distinct from that assay's clinical diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity. “Diagnostic sensitivity” is the percentage of persons who have a given disorder who are identified by the assay as positive for the disorder. ...References1. Cao Y, Qin L, Zhang L, Safrit J, Ho DD. Virologic and immunologic characterization of long-term survivors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332:201-8. Google Scholar2. Cuzick J, Szarewski A, Terry G, Ho L, Hanby A, Maddox P, et al. Human papillomavirus testing in primary cervical screening. Lancet. 1995; 345:1533-6. Google Scholar3. Vandamme AM. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool in HIV infection. Verh K Acad Geneeskd Belg. 1994; 56:231-65. Google Scholar4. Bournique B, Akar A, Broly H, Ajana F, Counis R, Scholler R. Detection of HIV-1 infections by PCR: evaluation in a seropositive subject population. 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Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.Grant Support: In part by U.S. Public Health Service cooperative agreement U01-AI-35042 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Corresponding Author: Alfred J. Saah, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E6006, Baltimore, MD 21205.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Saah: Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E6006, Baltimore, MD 21205. 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Carpenter, MDA second European collaborative study on polymerase chain reaction for Toxoplasma gondii , involving 15 teamsAn indirect immunofluorescence assay using a cell culture-derived antigen for detection of antibodies to the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis 1 January 1997Volume 126, Issue 1Page: 91-94KeywordsAttentionBloodDNAHIVHIV infectionsHIV-1Laboratory testsPolymerase chain reactionRNASpecificity Issue Published: 1 January 1997 CopyrightCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...