Why Is a False Positive More Significant in HIV Testing

question 19

Multiple Choice

Why is a false positive more significant in HIV testing of patients than in screening donated blood for transfusions?

• A) It isn't-both are equally dangerous/significant. False positives in PEOPLE can lead to psychological trauma, but false positives in BLOOD could lead to the useful blood being disposed.
• B) A false positive in a PERSON is easily re-testable. This makes it more significant, because we would simply quickly retest the person to verify their actual HIV status.
• C) A false positive in BLOOD is easily re-testable. This makes it less significant, because we would simply quickly retest the blood to verify its actual HIV status.
• D) This statement is backwards-false positives in blood testing are more significant. If the false positive rate is high and we don't realize it, we're more likely to dispose useful blood. This could lead to acute shortages of blood for patients that need transfusions.

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Definitions:

Breathing Pattern

The characteristic rhythm and depth of breathing in an individual, which can vary depending on physical activity, emotional state, and health conditions.

Polygraph

A machine used to detect and record changes in physiological processes such as heart rate, breathing, and perspiration, often used in lie detection.

Physiological Measurement

The process of recording biological activities, such as heart rate or brain activity, often used in psychological research to assess responses.

Lie-Detector Test

A technique that attempts to determine if someone is lying by measuring physiological responses, such as blood pressure, pulse, and skin conductivity.