presumptive positive

[ pri-zuhmp-tiv poz-i-tiv ]

/ prɪˈzʌmp tɪv ˈpɒz ɪ tɪv /

Save This Word!

adjective

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.

of or relating to a preliminary test indicating the presence of a substance or pathogen, but which requires confirmation by more rigorous laboratory analysis: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

a presumptive positive test result.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Also called pre·sumed pos·i·tive

[pri-zoomd-poz-i-tiv] /prɪˈzumd ˈpɒz ɪ tɪv/ .

Compare presumptive negative.

Origin of presumptive positive

First recorded in 1910–15

Words nearby presumptive positive

presumption of law, presumption of survivorship, presumptive, presumptive heir, presumptive negative, presumptive positive, presumptuous, presuppose, presupposition, presuppurative, presurmise

How to use presumptive positive in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But he, like many people using dating apps whatever their sexual identity, remains stoutly positive.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And the fact that satire unnerves the intolerant is evidence of its positive power.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The trials produced positive results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in November.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

And more than that—the world is ending because of the changes that many of us see as positive.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He was positive he had seen some one enter the room, go to the chair, and take the money from his pockets.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
At last his anxiety reached a point where he was positive that if he received an adverse decision, it would surely kill him.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Some hidden magnetism burst from him like an aura, and his cold pasty face and light gray eyes flamed into positive beauty.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
It is a sensitive test, and, when positive, is absolute proof of the presence of blood.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
There is no proof positive that it was henceforth his invariable rule to put this kind of finish.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick