Discussion exercises

Sensitivity – the ability of a test to identify the diseased correctly

Specificity – the ability of a test to identify non-diseased correctly

Positive predictive value – the chance of being truly diseased when a test result shows disease

Negative predictive value – the chance of being truly non-diseased when a test result does not show the disease

rK39 test should be done for a patient who fulfills the clinical case definition so that the addition of all the predictors (signs, symptoms and the rk39) results add up to a high level of positive predictive value. If rk39 is performed in a patient who does not fulfill the clinical case definition, then there will not be high level score to diagnose VL. The positive preidtive value of rK39 when applied on patients who fulfill the clinical case definition of VL is 86-93%.