väärännegatiiviset

Väärännegatiiviset, often translated as false negatives, occur when a test or diagnostic procedure incorrectly indicates the absence of a condition or substance when it is actually present. This means that a person or sample is identified as negative for a particular characteristic, such as a disease, an allergen, or a specific marker, when in reality, the characteristic is present.

In medical diagnostics, a false negative result can have serious consequences. For instance, a false negative for a contagious disease might lead to the infected individual not receiving timely treatment and unknowingly spreading the illness to others. Similarly, a false negative in cancer screening could delay crucial diagnosis and treatment, potentially leading to a poorer prognosis.

The occurrence of false negatives is influenced by various factors. These can include the sensitivity of the test itself, the stage or severity of the condition being tested for, and potential errors in sample collection or processing. A test with low sensitivity is more likely to produce false negative results because it may fail to detect even small amounts of the substance or condition.

The opposite of a false negative is a false positive, where a test incorrectly indicates the presence of a condition or substance that is actually absent. Understanding both types of errors is essential for interpreting test results accurately and making informed decisions in fields like medicine, quality control, and scientific research.