Sensitivity versus specificity

[AckMac]

I am reading a study where they mention sensitivity and specificity. What is the difference? It reads like this -- The sensitivity and specificity was as follows, colonoscopy = 82%/89%

Thanks much.

 

[kiny]

It's how reliable a test is. If a colonoscopy has a high sensitivity it means that almost every positively identified crohn patient through the colonoscopy actually has crohn. The specificity is the amount of correct people identified who don't have crohn through colonoscopy and in reality also don't have crohn.

 

[AckMac]

So if the sensitivity is high that means there were few false positives. If the sensitivity is high there were few false negatives?

 

[kiny]

yeah

 

[AckMac]

Thank you I appreciate your help.