Skip to content
← All questions

How do you calculate the probability of having the disease given a positive test result in the fictional screening model?

To calculate the probability of having the disease given a positive test result, you must count the number of true positives and divide it by the total number of positive results (true positives plus false positives). In the model, this involves identifying the 19 true positives out of the 118 total positive tests, yielding approximately 16.1%16.1\%.

Conditions

  • Prevalence is 1%1\% in a population of 2,000.
  • Sensitivity is 95%95\%.
  • Specificity is 95%95\%.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Determine the number of diseased people: 2,000×1%=202,000 \times 1\% = 20.
  2. Determine the number of healthy people: 2,000−20=1,9802,000 - 20 = 1,980.
  3. Calculate true positives: 20×95%=1920 \times 95\% = 19.
  4. Calculate false positives: 1,980×(1−95%)=1,980×5%=991,980 \times (1 - 95\%) = 1,980 \times 5\% = 99.
  5. Calculate total positives: 19+99=11819 + 99 = 118.
  6. Compute the conditional probability: P(D∣+)=19/118≈16.1%P(D\mid +) = 19 / 118 \approx 16.1\%.

Example

The script states: "The positive group contains 19+99=11819+99=118 people, of whom 19 have the disease. Thus P(D∣+)=19/118≈16.1%P(D\mid +)=19/118\approx16.1\%."

Common misconceptions

  • Dividing the number of true positives by the total population instead of the total positive tests.
  • Using the sensitivity (95%95\%) directly as the answer.
  • Forgetting to calculate false positives from the healthy population.

Watch the explanation

Connected concepts

Explore next

Related questions

Find a method

↗
Understand why

↗
Find a method

↗
Find a method

↗
Find a method

↗

Answers are generated from source material and independently checked. Consult the original video or creator if something is unclear.