WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

DNA Screening Incidentalome

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probability of false positive
0.00001
probability of true positive
5.×
-6
10
number of tests in array
100000
Genomic medicine offers affordable test arrays that screen for hundreds of thousands of genetic risk factors. However, further tests needed to distinguish between true positive and false positive results are more costly and may entail various inconveniences or even the iatrogenic risks of using advanced diagnostic techniques.
Modify the probabilities of individual tests being true positive or false positive. The blue line gives the expected percentage of false positives in at least one test in a screening array. The red line gives the expected percentage of at least one true positive result. Increase the number of tests per screening array to increase both percentages.