American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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Prepare for the AACN Certification Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is the sensitivity percentage of the ELISA screening test for HIV?

85.5%
99.9%
75%
90%

The correct answer is: 99.9%

The sensitivity percentage of the ELISA screening test for HIV is approximately 99.9%. This high sensitivity rate indicates the test's ability to correctly identify individuals who are HIV positive, minimizing the chances of false negatives. High sensitivity is crucial in screening tests because it ensures that most, if not all, individuals infected with the virus are detected, allowing for timely clinical intervention and treatment. While the other options present lower sensitivity percentages, they do not reflect the established performance level of the ELISA test, which is known for its reliability in HIV screening. A sensitivity of 85.5% or lower would suggest a higher likelihood of missed diagnoses, which is not acceptable in the context of public health and disease management for a serious condition like HIV. A sensitivity rate of 90% is still significantly lower than what is expected from the ELISA, reinforcing the importance of understanding that the test's effectiveness for initial screening is very high at around 99.9%.