presumptive positive
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
noun
Etymology
Origin of presumptive positive
First recorded in 1910–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An announcement posted by the FDA reported a "presumptive positive microbial result" on the line where the potatoes had been processed.
From Salon • Jul. 26, 2022
Authorities said the patient had shown a presumptive positive result, which would be confirmed by a lab in England.
From BBC • Aug. 30, 2020
Michigan did not announce its first presumptive positive case of the coronavirus until a day later, on March 10.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2020
New Mexico, which has six presumptive positive cases of covid-19, also acted early.
From Washington Post • Mar. 12, 2020
Two people in Florida who tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus have died, the state’s Department of Health announced Friday, marking the first such fatalities confirmed on the East Coast.
From Washington Times • Mar. 7, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
