Screening: sensitivity: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Screening: sensitivity

Sample item

A screening test has high sensitivity. What does this mean?

AIt correctly excludes most people without diseaseBIt correctly identifies most people who have the diseaseCIt predicts treatment response perfectlyDIt has no false positives

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. It correctly identifies most people who have the disease

Sensitivity is the probability that a test is positive among people who truly have the condition. A highly sensitive test has few false negatives.

Option by option

A. It correctly excludes most people without disease
Correctly excluding disease describes specificity.
B. It correctly identifies most people who have the disease (correct)
Correct. Sensitivity focuses on detecting disease among affected people.
C. It predicts treatment response perfectly
Treatment prediction is not the definition of sensitivity.
D. It has no false positives
No false positives would indicate perfect specificity.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, It correctly identifies most people who have the disease. Sensitivity is the probability that a test is positive among people who truly have the condition.

Why is "It correctly excludes most people without disease" not the answer?

Correctly excluding disease describes specificity.

Why is "It predicts treatment response perfectly" not the answer?

Treatment prediction is not the definition of sensitivity.

Why is "It has no false positives" not the answer?

No false positives would indicate perfect specificity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Screening: sensitivity in PSM. A highly sensitive test has few false negatives.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Screening: sensitivity?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.