11-24-2007, 10:20 AM
40. The genetic disease institute at a university hospital has developed a rapid screening test for a serious but treatable inherited metabolic disorder. Although this disorder is predominantly found in a particular ethnic group, it is also found sporadically throughout the entire population. The screening test has a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90%. When used in an ethnically prescreened population where the prevalence of this disorder is 30%, the positive predictive value is 80% and the negative predictive value is 96%. The institute proposes to use this screening test on the general population where the prevalence of this disease is 0.1%. Which of the following is the most likely result of this screening program?
A
) Negative predictive value decreases
B
) Positive predictive value decreases
C
) Sensitivity decreases
D
) Specificity decreases
A
) Negative predictive value decreases
B
) Positive predictive value decreases
C
) Sensitivity decreases
D
) Specificity decreases