In laboratory testing, sensitivity is defined as what percentage?

Sensitivity in laboratory testing is a critical measure of a test's ability to correctly identify individuals with a particular disease or condition. Specifically, sensitivity is defined as the percentage of positive specimens that are correctly identified by the test. This means that when a test is highly sensitive, it is effective at detecting true positives, significantly reducing the chance of false negatives. For instance, in the context of a diagnostic test for a disease, a test with high sensitivity ensures that most patients who actually have the disease are identified as positive by the test.

Understanding sensitivity is vital in clinical settings, especially for diseases where early detection is paramount. A test that lacks sensitivity may miss cases, leading to delayed treatment and worsening of patient outcomes.

The other options do not accurately capture the definition of sensitivity. The percentage of negative specimens correctly identified pertains to specificity, which measures how well the test identifies negative cases. The percentage of total specimens and the percentage of all tests performed accurately do not specifically address the test's effectiveness in identifying true positives, which is the core focus of sensitivity.