The higher the +LR is, the more likely it is that the patient has the condition if they have a ________ test.

The higher the +LR is, the more likely it is that the patient has the condition if they have a ________ test.

• A. negative
• B. inconclusive
• C. positive
• D. non-diagnostic

Answer: (C)

A high positive likelihood ratio means a positive test result is strong evidence that the patient has the condition. It shows how much more likely a positive result is in someone with disease than in someone without. When the +LR is large, a positive result substantially increases the post-test probability (post-test odds = pre-test odds × +LR), so the patient is much more likely to have the condition if the test is positive. Negative results are interpreted with the negative likelihood ratio, and inconclusive or non-diagnostic results don’t provide the same strong confirmation.

A high positive likelihood ratio means a positive test result is strong evidence that the patient has the condition. It shows how much more likely a positive result is in someone with disease than in someone without. When the +LR is large, a positive result substantially increases the post-test probability (post-test odds = pre-test odds × +LR), so the patient is much more likely to have the condition if the test is positive. Negative results are interpreted with the negative likelihood ratio, and inconclusive or non-diagnostic results don’t provide the same strong confirmation.