In the context of diagnostic testing, what does "sensitivity" refer to?

Sensitivity in diagnostic testing refers specifically to the ability of a test to correctly identify individuals who have a particular disease or condition. It measures how well a test can identify true positives, meaning those who truly have the disease are correctly diagnosed as such. A high sensitivity means that there are fewer false negatives; in other words, the test is effective at catching most cases of the disease.

This aspect of sensitivity is crucial in clinical settings, especially when early detection of a disease can significantly impact treatment outcomes and patient health. For instance, in screening tests for conditions such as cancer, high sensitivity is essential to ensure that most patients with the disease receive the necessary follow-up care and intervention.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent what sensitivity measures. For example, the ability to detect false negatives is not a characteristic of sensitivity itself, but rather an implication of low sensitivity. The overall accuracy of a test encompasses both sensitivity and specificity, while the detection of all test results does not pertain specifically to identifying individuals with a disease but suggests a broader, less focused approach.