A false-negative test result is one that does not detect what is
being tested even though it is present. A false-negative test result may thus
suggest that a person does not have a disease or condition being tested for
when in fact he or she does.
For example, a false-negative pregnancy test result would be one
that does not detect the substance (human chorionic gonadotropin) that would
confirm pregnancy, when in reality the woman is pregnant.
