In a standard diagnostic 2x2 table, the Positive and Negative rows refer to which concept?

• A. Test results (positive or negative)
• B. Disease status only
• C. Test availability
• D. Treatment response

Answer: (A)

In a standard diagnostic 2x2 table, the Positive and Negative rows reflect the outcomes of the diagnostic test itself—the test results. They classify individuals by what the test shows, independent of whether the disease is actually present. The disease status (present or absent) is the other axis, used to determine true/false positives and negatives. This arrangement lets you calculate sensitivity (true positives among those with disease) and specificity (true negatives among those without disease) and to describe the four cells: true positives, false positives, true negatives, false negatives. So the Positive/Negative rows are about test results, not disease status, availability, or treatment response.