Which statement best defines specificity of a diagnostic test?

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Study for the ACVPM Epidemiology and Biostatistics Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Be exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

Which statement best defines specificity of a diagnostic test?

Explanation:
Specificity measures how well a diagnostic test identifies people who do not have the disease. It is defined as the proportion of non-diseased individuals who test negative (true negatives divided by all non-diseased). That makes the statement “the proportion of non-diseased individuals who test negative” the correct definition. The other statements refer to sensitivity (testing positive among those with the disease) and to predictive values (the probability that a positive test confirms disease, or that a negative test confirms absence of disease), not specificity.

Specificity measures how well a diagnostic test identifies people who do not have the disease. It is defined as the proportion of non-diseased individuals who test negative (true negatives divided by all non-diseased). That makes the statement “the proportion of non-diseased individuals who test negative” the correct definition. The other statements refer to sensitivity (testing positive among those with the disease) and to predictive values (the probability that a positive test confirms disease, or that a negative test confirms absence of disease), not specificity.

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