The SpPin mnemonic indicates that high specificity leads to what outcome when the test is positive?

The SpPin mnemonic indicates that high specificity leads to what outcome when the test is positive?

• A. Positive test rules IN disease
• B. Negative test rules OUT disease
• C. No relation to disease ruling
• D. Positive test rules OUT disease

Answer: (A)

High specificity means the test has few false positives. When a test with high specificity is positive, that result is strong evidence that the disease is actually present, so it rules in the disease. In other words, SpPin—Specificity tends to “rule in” when positive. If the test were to rule out disease with a positive result, or if there were no relation at all between the test result and disease, that would contradict the idea behind a highly specific test.

High specificity means the test has few false positives. When a test with high specificity is positive, that result is strong evidence that the disease is actually present, so it rules in the disease. In other words, SpPin—Specificity tends to “rule in” when positive. If the test were to rule out disease with a positive result, or if there were no relation at all between the test result and disease, that would contradict the idea behind a highly specific test.