presumptive positive

American  

[pri-zuhmp-tiv poz-i-tiv] / prɪˈzʌmp tɪv ˈpɒz ɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to a positive test for a disease or medical condition that was done in a local laboratory, but whose results have not been officially confirmed by a public health agency or organization. An individual whose test result is presumptive positive is nonetheless treated as a confirmed case as a precaution.

   They detected several presumptive positive cases of infection.

2. of or relating to a preliminary test indicating the presence of a substance or pathogen, but which requires confirmation by more rigorous laboratory analysis: A positive drug test in the workplace is usually only presumptive positive, and it requires confirmation by a laboratory before any disciplinary action would be taken against an employee.

   In testing meat for the presence of harmful salmonella bacteria, presumptive positive meat samples were cultured in a laboratory to confirm any contamination before ordering a recall from stores.

   A positive drug test in the workplace is usually only presumptive positive, and it requires confirmation by a laboratory before any disciplinary action would be taken against an employee.

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noun

1. a presumptive positive test result.

Etymology

Origin of presumptive positive

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

California Correctional Health Care Services, which provides healthcare to inmates in the state’s 31 prisons, notified the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation about the incorrect tests after it discovered a significant increase in the number of presumptive positive tests between April and July 2024, according to a statement from the corrections department.

From Los Angeles Times

The agency is also investigating a separate case, also in LA County, concerning a cat that has "tested presumptive positive for H5 bird flu after consuming two different brands of raw pet food composed of raw poultry and raw beef."

From Salon

The ban comes after several days of contradictory test results conducted by different state and local health agencies, in which county public health departments found presumptive positive samples in bottled raw milk on store shelves, while state agriculture officials did not detect the virus in bulk milk tests.

From Los Angeles Times

The local health laboratory tested for H5N1, and the state was notified about a potential “presumptive positive” result.

From Los Angeles Times

Four cases have been confirmed, and the fifth is “presumptive positive and pending confirmation at CDC.”

From Salon