Which of the following describes analytical validity?

The correct choice describes analytical validity as the ability of a test to detect known variants. Analytical validity specifically refers to how well a test performs in accurately identifying the presence of specific genetic variants or mutations. This encompasses aspects such as the sensitivity and specificity of the test — sensitivity being the test's ability to correctly identify positive cases (i.e., true positives) and specificity being its ability to correctly identify negative cases (i.e., true negatives).

For a genetic test to have high analytical validity, it should consistently and reliably detect known variants without producing a significant number of false positives or false negatives. This is fundamental in clinical genetics, as the accurate detection of variants can directly influence diagnosis, treatment decisions, and patient management.

In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of testing. The impact on healthcare plans is related to cost-effectiveness and clinical utility, while the prediction of clinical outcomes addresses how results might influence treatment rather than the test’s detection capability itself. The accuracy rate of a screening test pertains to overall performance metrics but does not specifically highlight the ability to detect known variants, which is the core element of analytical validity.