In a 2x2 table, which outcome is a false positive?

In a 2x2 table, which outcome is a false positive?

• A. Condition absent and test negative.
• B. Condition present and test positive.
• C. Condition present and test negative.
• D. Condition absent and test positive.

Answer: (D)

False positives occur when the test indicates disease even though the person does not have it. In a 2x2 table this is the scenario where the condition is absent and the test result is positive. The other cells represent true positives (disease present, test positive), false negatives (disease present, test negative), and true negatives (disease absent, test negative). So the described outcome is a false positive, which relates to the test’s specificity—the ability to correctly identify those without the disease.

False positives occur when the test indicates disease even though the person does not have it. In a 2x2 table this is the scenario where the condition is absent and the test result is positive. The other cells represent true positives (disease present, test positive), false negatives (disease present, test negative), and true negatives (disease absent, test negative). So the described outcome is a false positive, which relates to the test’s specificity—the ability to correctly identify those without the disease.