A new caries-detection device is tested on 100 lesions with histologically confirmed caries and 100 sound surfaces. It is positive on 80 of the carious lesions and on 10 of the sound surfaces. What is the sensitivity of the device?

  • Correct answer

    80%

  • 90%

  • 89%

  • 82%

This question is one of 15 in AFK practice: Prevention, infection control and ethics. Test yourself on all of them.

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Explanations

  • Sensitivity = true positives / all diseased = 80/100 = 80%. The 90% figure is the specificity (90 true negatives out of 100 sound surfaces), and 89% is the positive predictive value (80/90).

    Source: Fletcher, Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials — oneguy

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