October 27, 2025
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
