In FSIS terminology, what is a lab result called when it appears positive but requires further analysis before a final result is reported?

Boost your FSIS Inspection and Mission Test skills! Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with explanations. Prepare for your exam efficiently!

A preliminary positive from a screening test that needs further analysis to reach a final determination is called a presumptive positive. This label signals that the initial assay suggests the presence of the target, but it isn’t yet confirmed. The lab will perform confirmatory tests to verify whether the target is truly present; if these confirmatory results support it, the final report becomes a confirmed positive. If the confirmatory analysis does not verify the target, the final result would be not detected or inconclusive, depending on the data. This approach helps prevent acting on a possible false positive from screening methods. The other terms don’t fit because they describe final confirmations (confirmed positive), ambiguous outcomes (inconclusive), or a negative signal rather than a positive one awaiting confirmation (tentative negative).