Importance of Sensitivity and Specificity in Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic tests need to have sensitivity and specificity to accurately identify disorders and differentiate between normal and abnormal results. Sensitivity measures the rate at which a test detects individuals with impairments, while specificity measures the rate at which it correctly identifies individuals without disorders. Tests without these measures can lead to underdiagnosis or overdiagnosis, risking incorrect diagnoses. Although older tests often lack sensitivity and specificity, newer tests are incorporating these measures more frequently. Currently, only about a third of the diagnostic tests available in university clinics include these important indicators, leaving a significant portion without the necessary evidence for accurate diagnosis.