Significance of False-positive
False-positive refers to a test result that inaccurately indicates the presence of a condition when it is actually absent. This can occur in various medical contexts, such as patients with septic shock showing elevated NT-proBNP levels, misinterpretations in Pap smears, or false diagnoses in vision screenings. False positives can significantly affect the reliability of diagnoses, as they may lead to unnecessary treatments or further testing. Understanding and mitigating false positives is crucial for accurate medical assessments.
Synonyms: Type i error, False alarm
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The concept of False-positive in scientific sources
False-positive refers to erroneous results that suggest a condition exists when it doesn't, particularly noted in clinical diagnostics, such as discrepancies between Pap smear results and actual health status.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) A test result that incorrectly indicates the presence of a condition when it is not actually present, requiring cautious interpretation.[1] (2) This is a situation where an individual is identified as being at risk for a disorder, but does not develop the disorder, raising ethical dilemmas in relation to the indicated prevention model.[2] (3) The number of false positives was slightly higher than that of false negatives, which can impact the accuracy of diagnosis.[3] (4) False positive results are considered when assessing the reliability of the Humphrey test, and these values are obtained in the Humphrey visual field analyzer report.[4] (5) False positives are instances where the vision screening test incorrectly identifies a child as having a vision impairment when they do not.[5]