What term describes the probability of obtaining a negative test when the state does not exist?

The term that describes the probability of obtaining a negative test result when the condition in question does not exist is specificity. Specificity is a measure used in diagnostic testing to evaluate how well a test identifies those without the disease. In other words, it indicates the percentage of true negatives among those who do not have the condition. A high specificity means that the test is reliable in ruling out individuals who do not have the disease, thereby minimizing the chances of a false positive result.

Sensitivity, on the other hand, relates to the test's ability to correctly identify those who have the condition, focusing instead on true positives. Likelihood ratio refers to the ratio of the probability of a test result in those with the disease compared to those without it, which is not directly concerned with negative test results. Predictive value pertains to the probability that a person has or does not have a disease given a particular test result, but does not specifically address the performance of the test in the absence of the condition. Thus, specificity is the appropriate term for the question asked.