False Negative

A false negative refers to a situation where a test or diagnostic result incorrectly indicates the absence of a condition, even though the condition is actually present. It signifies that the test has failed to detect the true positive cases.

In healthcare, false negative results can have serious consequences as they can lead to delayed or missed diagnoses. For instance, in medical screenings, such as cancer screenings, a false negative means that a person with an actual disease is wrongly identified as disease-free, thus delaying necessary treatment. Similarly, in security and safety screenings, like airport security or drug testing, false negatives can result in potentially dangerous individuals or substances going undetected, posing risks to public safety. The rate of false negatives is influenced by various factors, including the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the test or screening tool, as well as the prevalence of the condition being tested for.