Final answer:
When blood biomarkers highlight the risk for chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease without being directly diagnostic, they are considered sensitive but not specific for disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an elevation in blood biomarkers highlight one's risk for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, but are not directly diagnostic for those conditions, it is said that the risk factors are sensitive but not specific for disease. These biomarkers can provide valuable information about the likelihood of developing certain conditions, but they are not conclusive evidence of disease presence. For example, elevated levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood glucose may indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but further diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the presence of the disease.