false positive

Noun

Meaning

A result of a test that shows as present something that is absent.
A false positive from a cancer screening test will unnecessarily frighten a healthy person; a false negative will deprive them of timely treatment.
A false positive can be returned on a password checking algorithm when the password is tested against a dictionary but the password does not contain a dictionary word.

(statistics) type I error

Alternative names

false-positive

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

According to those with knowledge of what unfolded, false-positive reactions emerged at 24 of the 26 labs that first tried out the kits in advance of analyzing samples gathered from patients. Source: Internet

Among the questions Mr. Musk on Twitter raised about Covid-19 testing was the level of false-positive rates for PCR tests. Source: Internet

In September, Becton Dickinson, which is supplying 750,000 of its SARS-CoV-2 antigen test to the U.S. government, said it is investigating reports from U.S. nursing homes that its rapid coronavirus testing equipment is producing false-positive results. Source: Internet

Both intentional and false-positive detection of Macrovision protection has frustrated archivists who wish to copy now-fragile VHS tapes to a digital format for preservation. Source: Internet

The Loons had scored two goals in their previous three games, so early goals Sunday helped diminish a lack of crisp play after full training sessions missed and two games postponed due to two positive cases and a third false-positive test since Oct. 17. Source: Internet

Furthermore, the false-positive rate of tests, such as the D-dimer assay and computed tomographic pulmonary angiograms, is high, leading to more tests and overdiagnosis and including risks of unnecessary anticoagulation." Source: Internet

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