What is the common formula for calculating sensitivity?

The formula for calculating sensitivity is defined as the proportion of true positives (TP) out of the total actual positives, which is the sum of true positives and false negatives (FN). This is expressed mathematically as TP/(TP + FN).

Sensitivity is crucial in evaluating the performance of a diagnostic test, as it indicates how effectively the test identifies individuals who actually have the condition. A high sensitivity means that the test accurately detects most individuals who are positive for the disease, thereby minimizing the number of false negatives. This is particularly important in medical testing scenarios where failing to detect a condition can have serious consequences.

In contrast, the other formulas focus on different aspects of test performance: one calculates specificity (true negatives in relation to total actual negatives), while another relates to the positive predictive value. These formulas serve different analytical purposes and are not applicable to sensitivity calculations.