In laboratory testing, what does sensitivity refer to?

Sensitivity in laboratory testing is a critical measurement that refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify individuals who have a particular disease or condition. This means that a test with high sensitivity will yield a high proportion of true positive results, effectively minimizing the chances of false negatives. In practical terms, if a screening test for a disease has a sensitivity of 90%, this implies that 90% of the people who have the disease will receive a positive test result, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.

Other factors, such as the effectiveness of treatment, the speed of test results, and the cost-effectiveness of the test, are important considerations in healthcare but do not define sensitivity. Instead, they pertain to different aspects of patient care and laboratory efficiency rather than the test's diagnostic capability. Sensitivity specifically focuses on the test's performance related to detecting the presence of disease, making it a vital factor in evaluating the utility of a diagnostic test.