Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control, the probability of a randomly selected person having gonorrhea is 0.00114. In tests for gonorrhea, blood samples from 16 people are combined. What is the probability that the combined sample tests positive for gonorrhea? Is it unlikely for such a combined sample to test positive?
Involve the method of composite sampling, whereby a medical testing laboratory saves time and money by combining blood samples for tests so that only one test is conducted for several people. A combined sample tests positive if at least one person has the disease. If a combined sample tests positive, then individual blood tests are used to identify the individual with the disease.