What is the term for an erroneous test result indicating a patient has a disease when they do not?

A false positive is the correct term for an erroneous test result that indicates a patient has a disease when they do not. This situation arises when a diagnostic test suggests the presence of a condition, leading to unnecessary concern or treatment for the patient. It's important in clinical practice to understand that false positive results can arise from various factors such as cross-reactivity with other substances, technical errors during testing, or the inherent sensitivity of the test.

In contrast, a false negative occurs when a test fails to detect a disease that is actually present, while true negative and true positive results refer to accurate detections of not having or having a disease, respectively. Focusing on avoiding false positives is crucial in ensuring that patients receive appropriate care based on accurate diagnostic information.