The (in)validity of sensitivity and specificity
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE)
Published on: April 21, 2019
I Guggenmoos-Holzmann1, H C van Houwelingen
1Free University, Berlin, Germany and Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
This paper is a legacy of the first author, and after her untimely death reconstructed by the second author as a tribute to Irene Guggenmoos's contribution to biostatistics. It discusses two different views on diagnostic testing: the classical view in which sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test are considered universal constants, and the more statistical point of view that focuses on predictive values. The differences between the two paradigms are outlined and practical examples are discussed to show that the familiar concepts of sensitivity and specificity must be handled with care and not used indiscriminately.
Related Concept Videos
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predicted Value
Sensitivity is the...
Receiver Operating Characteristic Plot
Accuracy and Errors in Hypothesis Testing
In hypothesis testing, the probability of making a Type I error, denoted as α, is commonly set at 0.05. This significance level indicates a 5% chance...
Reliability and Validity
Significance Testing: Overview
Errors In Hypothesis Tests
