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A member asked:
What is the difference between sensitive vs specific test ?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Great question: A sensitive lab test will pick everybody who's got the disease in question, but it will also probably give positives for some people who do not have it. A specific test will miss some people with the disease, but if it is positive, the patient almost certainly has the disease. In testing, start with the most sensitive test, then confirm it with a specific test.
Answered 2/4/2016
5.1k views
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