If my test negative test for a particular disease was 97% accurate, and (considering the fact that my exposure is unknown) the disease is only carried by about 0.6% percent of the population, what does that make my overall percentage chance that I am not infected by this disease?
2006-12-29 11:14:45 · 3 answers · asked by Jay 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
About 99.98%. Rather than "accuracy," sensitivity and specificity are usually used, so you know more what to expect.
2006-12-29 11:33:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok
there's a 3% chance the test is wrong and you are actually positive.
the chance you are positive without taking the test is 0.6%.
So, the chance that you are positive 0.6% AND the test is wrong, 3% is 0.6 times 3 or 1.8% chance that you are positive givent the information at hand.
If this is not a probability test for school then just get retested in a few months and if still negative, you can sleep well.
2006-12-29 11:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by Hank Hill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you are okay dude. your test said 97% negative there you go.
2006-12-29 11:26:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋