Raising the cutoff value of a diagnostic test will have what effect on sensitivity?

Raising the cutoff value of a diagnostic test affects the threshold needed for a test result to be considered positive. When the cutoff is increased, fewer test results will meet the criteria for a positive diagnosis. This means that some individuals with the condition may no longer test positive, thereby reducing the test's sensitivity.

Sensitivity refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positives). As the cutoff rises, it becomes more stringent, leading to a decrease in the number of true positives detected. Consequently, some patients who actually have the disease will be misclassified as negative (false negatives), thus lowering the sensitivity of the test.

While increasing the cutoff can lead to an increase in specificity (the ability to correctly identify those without the disease), it directly results in a decrease in sensitivity, as it captures fewer cases of the disease. Understanding the balance between sensitivity and specificity is crucial in diagnostic medicine, as altering the cutoff can significantly impact patient diagnosis and subsequent management.