A 15-year old male with positive laboratory results for both infectious mononucleosis and syphilis is best explained by which of the following?

A 15-year old male with positive laboratory results for both infectious mononucleosis and syphilis is best explained by which of the following?

• A. False negative
• B. False positive
• C. True negative
• D. True positive

Answer: (D)

In this scenario, a 15-year-old male has tested positive for both infectious mononucleosis and syphilis. To understand why the answer is true positive, consider what a true positive result indicates. A true positive results from a test accurately identifying the presence of a disease or infection when it is indeed present in the patient. In the case of infectious mononucleosis, typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and syphilis, which is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, both infections can occur simultaneously in a patient. The positive laboratory results suggest that the individual has both infections, meaning the tests are accurately reflecting the actual health status of the patient. A false negative would imply that the tests indicated the absence of a disease when it was actually present, which is not the case here. A false positive would indicate that the test incorrectly identified a disease that was not present; this is also not applicable given the context provided. A true negative would mean a test correctly identified the absence of a disease, which again does not apply to this scenario. Therefore, recognizing that both infections are confirmed by the positive tests logically leads to the conclusion that the results are truly positive for both infectious mononucleosis

In this scenario, a 15-year-old male has tested positive for both infectious mononucleosis and syphilis. To understand why the answer is true positive, consider what a true positive result indicates. A true positive results from a test accurately identifying the presence of a disease or infection when it is indeed present in the patient.

In the case of infectious mononucleosis, typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and syphilis, which is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, both infections can occur simultaneously in a patient. The positive laboratory results suggest that the individual has both infections, meaning the tests are accurately reflecting the actual health status of the patient.

A false negative would imply that the tests indicated the absence of a disease when it was actually present, which is not the case here. A false positive would indicate that the test incorrectly identified a disease that was not present; this is also not applicable given the context provided. A true negative would mean a test correctly identified the absence of a disease, which again does not apply to this scenario.

Therefore, recognizing that both infections are confirmed by the positive tests logically leads to the conclusion that the results are truly positive for both infectious mononucleosis