In a 2x2 table, the gold standard is negative and the clinical test is negative. This cell is called:

In a 2x2 table, the gold standard is negative and the clinical test is negative. This cell is called:

• A. True Positives
• B. False Positives
• C. False Negatives
• D. True Negatives

Answer: (D)

In diagnostic testing, when the gold standard shows no disease and the test also shows no disease, that result is a true negative. It means the test correctly identified someone as not having the condition. This contrasts with a false positive (no disease on the gold standard but a positive test), a false negative (disease present on the gold standard but a negative test), and a true positive (disease present on both). True negatives specifically reflect the test’s ability to rule out disease when the result is negative.

In diagnostic testing, when the gold standard shows no disease and the test also shows no disease, that result is a true negative. It means the test correctly identified someone as not having the condition. This contrasts with a false positive (no disease on the gold standard but a positive test), a false negative (disease present on the gold standard but a negative test), and a true positive (disease present on both). True negatives specifically reflect the test’s ability to rule out disease when the result is negative.