What is a primary concern when a test has high sensitivity?

High sensitivity in a diagnostic test refers to the test's ability to correctly identify individuals who have a particular condition, minimizing the risk of false negatives. A test with high sensitivity is effective in ruling out a disease when a result is negative; if the test result is negative, it suggests that the condition is highly unlikely to be present.

However, the concern associated with high sensitivity is primarily linked to the potential for an increased number of false positives. Although this isn't the choice indicated, it's important to understand that while a highly sensitive test reduces false negatives, it may compromise specificity, leading to a higher likelihood of false positives. This means that while more true cases are identified, there might be a trade-off, potentially identifying healthy individuals as having the disease erroneously.

High sensitivity is crucial in screening tests where the goal is to catch as many cases as possible early, but it requires careful follow-up and confirmatory testing to avoid unnecessary anxiety or treatment for patients who are incorrectly identified as having the condition due to false positives.

In summary, high sensitivity is a vital attribute for tests aiming to identify patients with a disease, but this characteristic may lead to a higher rate of false positives, thereby necessitating great caution and additional testing to confirm true cases.