Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
false positive
A screening test result that incorrectly indicates the presence of a condition.
Full Definition
A false positive occurs when a newborn screening test suggests that an infant has a particular condition when they actually do not. This can happen due to various factors including prematurity, illness, or laboratory variation. False positives require follow-up testing to confirm or rule out the suspected condition, and while they can cause parental anxiety, they are an inevitable part of screening programs designed to catch all affected infants.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as an adjective; use as two words when a noun.
In Context
- "The initial screening showed a false positive for cystic fibrosis, but confirmatory testing was normal." — follow-up report
- "False positive rates vary by condition and are tracked as quality metrics." — program evaluation
Also known as
false positive result
Contrasted with
false negative
true positive
Don't confuse with
inconclusive result
borderline result