BLOODPAC Lexicon

Description text goes here“Average risk” describes a population with risk that is comparable to the general population after consideration of age and sex. When applied to individuals and specific cancer type(s), “average risk” means that the individual has no known attributes, such as an exposure history, a family history, or a medical history, that puts him/her at a greater or lesser risk for that specific cancer type(s) than the typical person of their age (and sex, when relevant).

In the context of cancer screening and early detection, identification of a cancer-associated signal that requires diagnostic testing for confirmation of the presence and type of cancer. (Contrast with other clinical applications of “cancer detection,” such as minimal/molecular residual disease. Also see definitions of "cancer screening" and "diagnosis.")

The number of true positives divided by the total number of screening tests over a given test interval for the specific cancer type(s) that the test purports to detect. Test developers should clarify the number of screening rounds and the test interval when calculating the cancer detection rate.