validity
A
A diagnostic test is never perfect. The fundamental problem lies between the sensitivity and the specificity of a test. These characteristics oppose each other, and choices in test design reflect the search for the optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity according to the clinical situation in which it is used. For example, screening mammograms have to be very sensitive, to detect as many cancers as possible. Therefore the specificity is sacrificed so that we may identify as many early breast cancers as possible. Consequently, many screening mammograms which are interpreted as being abnormal do not, in the end, detect a real cancer. Many other abnormalities are found, and the diagnostic workup weeds these out so that the cancers are finally identified. The flip side would be a very specific but not very sensitive test. Breast ultrasound, to determine the nature of an anomaly is very specific for simple cysts and certain cancers, but is not sensitive - hence it is not used in screening but rather in the workup of an abnormal screening mammogram. Test design takes into account the two sides, and conscious decisions are made to favor either sensitivity or specificity.
stomach muscles ache after a barium swallowing test
The answer is Yes, only if this is in reference to a selective and/or differential medium. Specificity is the ability of the test to identify negative results while sensitivity is the ability of a test to detect positive results. So, if taking out the NaCl effects your ability to interpret your data results then it in someway has effected your sensitivity and specificity.
Sensitivity measures how well a test identifies disease-positive (D+). Specificity measures the probability that a positive test result (T+) correlates to a real D+ person. These measures tend to be inverse of each other-- that is, the more sensitive a test, the less specific it is likely to be, and vice versa.
False negatives in a voges-proskauer test would be due to poor sensitivity.
no
no
The false positive from the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and the inoculating loop would be caused by poor specificity. The formula for specificity is TN/TN+FP.
It is very unlikely for one drug to cause a false positive on a drug screen for any other substance. Drug screens test for metabolites of specific drugs. All drug tests have a rating based on specificity and sensitivity. The higher the sensitivity, the lower the specificity. Basically it is only possible to have a false positive by using another drug that is very chemically similar to the positive test.
Both blood and urine tests are simple tests that can be done in a doctor's office or clinic. These tests can be done on even the youngest patients. A newborn can be tested by blood or urine, however urine is more accurate in diagnosing organic acidemia hence, more reliable. The screening spectrum by urine covers more than 100 metabolic disorders across carbohydrate, fat and amino acid metabolism. The biggest precaution be the accuracy of the test. When a test is done it should be more sensitive and specific, if not can result in false positive and false negative result. The sensitivity of a test depends to a large extent on chosen cut-off values, and is a balancing act: the higher the sensitivity the lower the specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of course will vary according to decisions about cut-off points and what range of false positive and negative results can be tolerated in a particular programme.
It is very unlikely for one drug to cause a false positive on a drug screen for any other substance. Drug screens test for metabolites of specific drugs. All drug tests have a rating based on specificity and sensitivity. The higher the sensitivity, the lower the specificity. Basically it is only possible to have a false positive by using another drug that is very chemically similar to the positive test. These drugs are not chemically similar.