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Table 2 Performance of Xpert MTB/RIF in different specimens

From: A retrospective study on Xpert MTB/RIF for detection of tuberculosis in a teaching hospital in China

Specimen type

No. (%)

Xpert positive cases (%)

Confirmed TB (%)

Sensitivity (95% CI) (%)

Specificity (95% CI) (%)

Positive predictive value (95% CI) (%)

Negative predictive value (95% CI) (%)

Presumptive PTB cases

533 (67.7%)

48 (9.0%)

52 (9.8%)

88.5 (77.0–94.6)

99.6 (98.5–99.9)

95.8 (86.0–98.9)

98.8 (97.3–99.4)

 BALF

204 (25.9%)

7 (3.4%)

7 (3.4%)

85.7 (48.7–97.4)

99.5 (97.2–99.9)

85.7 (48.7–97.4)

99.5 (97.2–99.9)

 Sputum

165 (21.0%)

24 (14.5%)

26 (15.8%)

88.5 (71.0–96.0)

99.3 (96.0–99.9)

95.8 (79.8–99.3)

97.9 (93.9–99.3)

 FOB

105 (13.3%)

9 (8.6%)

11 (10.5%)

81.2 (52.3–94.9)

100.0 (96.1–100.0)

100.0 (70.1–100.0)

97.9 (92.7–99.4)

 Lung tissue

52 (6.6%)

7 (13.5%)

7 (13.5%)

100.0 (64.6–100.0)

100.0 (92.1–100.0)

100.0 (64.6–100.0)

100.0 (92.1–100.0)

 Others

7 (0.9%)

1 (14.3%)

1 (14.3%)

100.0 (20.7–100.0)

100.0 (61.0–100.0)

100.0 (20.7–100.0)

100.0 (61.0–100.0)

Presumptive EPTB cases

172 (21.9%)

14 (8.1%)

17 (9.9%)

76.5 (52.7–90.4)

99.4 (96.4–99.9)

92.9 (68.5–98.7)

97.5 (93.7–99.0)

 Intestine tissue

53 (6.7%)

1 (1.9%)

0 (0%)

NA#

98.1 (90.1–99.7)

0.0 (0.0–79.4)

100.0 (93.1–100.0)

 CSF

42 (5.3%)

2 (4.8%)

2 (4.8%)

100.0 (34.2–100.0)

100.0 (91.2–100.0)

100.0 (34.2–100.0)

100.0 (91.2–100.0)

 Ascitic fluid

18 (2.3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

NA

100.0 (82.4–100.0)

NA

100.0 (82.4–100.0)

 Joint cavity fluid

13 (1.7%)

2 (15.4%)

2 (15.4%)

100.0 (34.2–100.0)

100.0 (74.1–100.0)

100.0 (34.2–100.0)

100.0 (74.1–100.0)

 Extrapulmonary lymph node

12 (1.5%)

5 (41.7%)

5 (41.7%)

100.0 (56.6–100.0)

100.0 (64.6–100.0)

100.0 (56.6–100.0)

100.0 (64.6–100.0)

 Urine

11 (1.4%)

1 (9.1%)

3 (27.3%)

33.3 (6.2–79.2)

100.0 (67.6–100.0)

100.0 (20.7–100.0)

80.0 (49.0–94.3)

 Others

23 (2.9%)

3 (13.0%)

5 (21.7%)

60.0 (23.1–88.2)

100.0 (82.4–100.0)

100.0 (43.9–100.0)

90.0 (69.9–97.2)

Presumptive TP cases

82 (10.4%)

3 (3.7%)

20 (24.4%)

15.0 (5.2–36.0)

100.0 (94.2–100.0)

100.0 (43.9–100.0)

78.5 (68.2–86.1)

 Pleural fluid

82 (10.4%)

3 (3.7%)

20 (24.4%)

15.0 (5.2–36.0)

100.0 (94.2–100.0)

100.0 (43.9–100.0)

78.5 (68.2–86.1)

Total

787

65 (8.3%)

89 (11.3%)

69.7 (59.5–78.2)

99.6 (98.7–99.9)

95.4 (87.3–98.4)

96.3 (94.6–97.4)

  1. Abbreviation: PTB pulmonary tuberculosis; EPTB extra-pulmonary tuberculosis; TP tuberculous pleurisy; CI confidence interval; BALF bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; FOB Fiberoptic bronchoscopy; CSF Cerebrospinal fluid. #, NA, No Xpert positive results (and no confirmed TB cases) were obtained, thus the sensitivity (and positive predictive value) was not available