A Biomedical Research Company Creates 2 Similar Real-Time, Nondestructive Cancer

question 510

Multiple Choice

A biomedical research company creates 2 similar real-time, nondestructive cancer diagnostic devices (X and Y) in the form of a pen.  The pens are applied to the tissue surface for a few seconds, during which time each pen releases a single water droplet onto the tissue.  The water droplet, which picks up small biomolecules from the tissue, is then sucked back into the pen and transferred via tubing to a mass spectrometer.  The spectrometer performs a quick molecular analysis and determines whether the tissue is normal (noncancerous) or abnormal (cancerous) .  The devices allow surgeons to know which tissue to remove and which not to remove.  The performance of Devices X and Y was compared using the same samples of tissue.  The biomedical research company reported that, compared to Device Y, Device X is better at identifying cancerous tissue as abnormal but worse at identifying noncancerous tissue as normal.  Based on this information, which of the following conclusions about the diagnostic devices must be true?

• A)Device X has a higher accuracy than Device Y
• B)Device X has a higher false-positive rate than Device Y
• C)Device X has a higher positive predictive value than Device Y
• D)Device X has a higher specificity than Device Y
• E)There is not enough information to draw a conclusion

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Definitions:

Cash Flow Growth

The increase in the amount of money moving in and out of a business over a specific period, indicating financial health.

Retirement Savings

Money that has been set aside or invested with the purpose of using it for income upon retiring.