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Table 2 “False Positives” and “False Negatives” of mNGS

From: The diagnostic value of metagenomic next⁃generation sequencing in infectious diseases

Pathogens Detected Only by mNGS in the NID Group

Sample No.

Specimen source

Diagnosis

mNGS result

Possible explanation

2

BALF

Hematencephalon

Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella, Enterococcu

Unknown

33

Blood

Lymphoma

Pseudomonas, CMV

Potential cause of lymphoma

62

Blood

Aplastic anemia

Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcu

Overinterpretation

67

Blood

myelofibrosis

Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Overinterpretation

74

Pleural Fluid

Pleural effusion

Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus constellatus, Porphyromonas gingivalis

Potential cause of inflammation

86

Blood

Ulcerative Colitis

Porphyromonas gingivalis, HSV

Potential cause of inflammation

88

Blood

Lung cancer

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Overinterpretation

Culturable Pathogens Missed by mNGS in the ID Group

Microbe

Count

Possible explanation

MTB

2

Positive Not Detected

Pseudomonas

1

Microbes “Weak”

  1. Abbreviations: mNGS metagenomic next-generation sequencing, ID infectious disease, NID noninfectious disease, CMV metagenomic next-generation sequencing, HSV herpes simplex virus, MTB Mycobacterium tuberculosis