Test specificity

Definition

Test specificity is the ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate). It measures how well the test can distinguish between the target analyte and non-target substances.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. High specificity reduces false positives, ensuring that non-diseased individuals are not erroneously identified as diseased.
2. Specificity is crucial in tests where false positives could lead to unnecessary treatments or anxiety.
3. It is calculated as: Specificity = True Negatives / (True Negatives + False Positives).
4. In antibody production, high specificity ensures that antibodies bind only to the intended antigen and not to other substances.
5. A highly specific monoclonal antibody will produce minimal cross-reactivity with other proteins or antigens.

Review Questions

• What does a high specificity indicate about a diagnostic test?
• How is test specificity calculated?
• Why is test specificity important in monoclonal antibody production?

Related terms

Sensitivity: The ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate).

False Positive: An incorrect test result indicating that a condition or attribute is present when it is not.

Monoclonal Antibody: Antibodies that are produced by identical immune cells and are specific to a single epitope.