Sensitivity

When referring to a medical test, sensitivity refers to the percentage of people who test positive for a specific disease among a group of people who have the disease. No test has 100% sensitivity because some people who have the disease will test negative for it (false negatives).

An epidemiologic measure of how often people who do have some condition are correctly identified by a test as having that condition (“true positives”) instead of as a “false negative” test result.

The level of random noise in the temperature measurement.

In diagnostic tests, the smallest amount of the target molecule that the assay can detect.

Used in this guideline to mean a measure of the importance assigned to information by its owner, for the purpose of denoting its need for protection.

1. In an electronic device, e.g., a communications system receiver, or detection device, e.g., PIN diode, the minimum input signal required to produce a specified output signal having a specified signal-to-noise ratio, or other specified criteria. Note 1: The signal input may be expressed as power in dBm or as field strength in microvolts per meter, with input network impedance stipulated. Note 2: " Sensitivity" is sometimes improperly used as a synonym for "responsivity." 2. In INFOSEC, a measure of the importance assigned to information by its owner, for the purpose of denoting its need for protection. [After 2382-pt.8] 3. The characteristic of a resource which implies its value or importance, and may include its vulnerability [7498-2].