What does a false negative result indicate about a patient with a disease?

A false negative result signifies that the diagnostic test has failed to identify a disease in a patient who actually has it. This means that the test showed a negative outcome—indicating no disease—when, in reality, the patient is affected. In clinical practice, this can lead to a dangerous situation where the patient may not receive the necessary treatment or intervention for their condition, as they are wrongly categorized as disease-free. Such instances highlight the importance of test sensitivity, which is the ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease. A high sensitivity reduces the chance of false negatives and is crucial in effective disease management.