American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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What does Sensitivity (SN) measure in a diagnostic test?

TP/(TP+FP)
TN/(TN+FN)
TP/TP+FN
FN/(TP+FP)

The correct answer is: TP/TP+FN

Sensitivity measures the ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify individuals who have a particular disease or condition. Specifically, it is calculated as the number of true positives divided by the sum of true positives and false negatives. This means that sensitivity focuses on the test's capability to detect the presence of a condition when it is actually there. When sensitivity is high, it indicates that the test is effective in identifying most of the actual positive cases, thereby minimizing the chances of false negatives. This is particularly important for conditions that require prompt diagnosis and treatment, as missing a positive case could lead to serious health consequences. The formulas for sensitivity and other related metrics are essential in evaluating the performance of diagnostic tests, but in this case, sensitivity specifically highlights how well a test captures true cases of a disease, which is succinctly articulated in the correct answer.