Introduction
Biomarker discovery is an exciting field, but it can also be confusing. In this lesson, we’ll tackle the top 10 words that often cause confusion. Let’s dive in!
1. Sensitivity vs. Specificity
Sensitivity refers to a test’s ability to correctly identify positive cases, while specificity measures its ability to correctly identify negative cases. Remember, sensitivity is about true positives, and specificity is about true negatives.
2. Accuracy vs. Precision
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value, while precision is about the consistency of repeated measurements. A measurement can be precise but not accurate, or accurate but not precise.
3. Sensitivity vs. Selectivity
Sensitivity, as we discussed earlier, is about true positives. Selectivity, on the other hand, is about true negatives. In other words, sensitivity focuses on the target, while selectivity looks at everything else.
4. Validation vs. Verification
Validation is about assessing the performance of a method or test, ensuring it meets the required standards. Verification, on the other hand, is confirming that the method is working correctly in a specific laboratory setting.
5. Discovery vs. Validation
Discovery is the initial phase, where potential biomarkers are identified. Validation comes after, where these potential biomarkers are rigorously tested to confirm their significance.
6. Sensitivity vs. Positive Predictive Value
Sensitivity, as we know, is about true positives. Positive predictive value, however, is the probability that a positive test result is truly positive. It takes into account the prevalence of the condition in the population.
7. False Positive vs. False Discovery
A false positive occurs when a test incorrectly identifies something as positive. In biomarker discovery, a false discovery is when a potential biomarker is mistakenly identified as significant.
8. Prevalence vs. Incidence
Prevalence is the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific condition at a given time. Incidence, on the other hand, is the number of new cases of a condition within a specific time period.
9. Sensitivity vs. Limit of Detection
Sensitivity, as we’ve discussed, is about true positives. The limit of detection, however, is the lowest concentration of a biomarker that can be reliably detected by a test.
10. Sensitivity vs. Specificity vs. Predictive Value
To summarize, sensitivity is about true positives, specificity is about true negatives, and predictive value is about the probability that a positive or negative result is truly positive or negative.