Overview :

The sensitivity of a test is the number of true-positive test results divided by the number of all patients with the disease.

sensitivity =

= (a / (a + c))

where:

• a  = true positives

• a + c = true positives + false negatives = all people with disease

Comments:

• The better the seNsitivity of the test, the fewer the false Negatives.

• The sensitivity is the true positive rate.

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Speicher C, Smith JW Jr.. Choosing Effective Laboratory Tests. WB Saunders. 1983. pages 50-51, and 210