Which equation represents the overall accuracy of a test?

The equation that represents the overall accuracy of a test is the one that includes all components of test results: true positives (TP), true negatives (TN), false positives (FP), and false negatives (FN). This measure provides a comprehensive view of the test's performance by calculating the ratio of correctly identified cases to the total number of cases assessed.

The formula of overall accuracy is defined as the sum of true positive and true negative results divided by the total outcomes, which includes true positives, true negatives, false positives, and false negatives. This means that the overall accuracy essentially evaluates how many of the total tests were interpreted correctly, regardless of whether the outcome was positive or negative.

This is important for evaluating a test’s effectiveness in a clinical or diagnostic context, ensuring that both the correct identifications of disease (true positives) and the correct identifications of health (true negatives) contribute to the measurement of the test’s performance. This holistic approach to accuracy is essential for making informed decisions based on the test results.