The positive predictive value of a test depends heavily on:

A) Test sensitivity alone

B) The prevalence of the disease in the population being tested

C) Specificity alone

D) Sample size only

Explanation

PPV = TP/(TP+FP). Even highly specific tests have low PPV in low-prevalence populations (many false positives relative to true positives). Bayesian reasoning: prior probability matters.

Practice More Everyday Science Questions