We are exploring sensitivity and specificity. This can let you know the limitations of a test for a disease. More and more labs, hospitals, and public health agencies are moving to molecular methods...

Epidemiology


We are exploring sensitivity and specificity. This can let you know the limitations of a test for a disease. More and more labs, hospitals, and public health agencies are moving to molecular methods to test for disease, but often for screening tests we use test like EIA or other rapid immunogenic tests. Your Work: Select a disease (any disease of choice) · Find the prevalence or incidence of that disease in the United States ? · Find a screening test for that disease and the manufacturer’s reported sensitivity and specificity ? · Apply that proportion to a random population of 100,000 people ? · Calculate the predictive positive value and the predictive negative value ? · Answer the question: Does it make sense to screen for this disease using this test and based on the natural history of the disease why or why not ? Example: How to work the math alone Disease X occurs at a prevalence of 10 per 100,000 population. Screening test Y has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 80%. Step 1:   Disease (+) Disease (-) Test (+) 95% 20% Test (-) 5% 80%   10 999,990 Step 2:   Disease (+) Disease (-) Test (+) 9.5 199,998 Test (-) .5 799,992   10 999,990   From this point, you can easily calculate the predictive positive and the predictive negative values. The real challenge is going to look at the natural history of the disease, cost of the test, treatment of the disease and determine if screening is appropriate. If it is appropriate or not, you have to provide researched justification (cited) as to why it is not or is and if there are certain groups it would be best to screen or prioritize why or why not. All research should be cited and appropriately supported. This work must be 500 words or more and in Proper APA format writing and relevant referencing.