Table 4 Diagnostic performance of conventional methods and the multiplex PCR-based assay and using conventional methods, final clinical diagnosis of empyema, empyema and pleura fluid ≤7.2 as reference-standard
From: Multiplex bacterial polymerase chain reaction in a cohort of patients with pleural effusion
1. All cases – Conventional methods as reference-standard | Sensitivity (%) | Specificity (%) | Positive predictive value (%) |
Multiplex PCR-based assay vs. all pathogens | 12 | 93.5 | 20 |
Multiplex PCR-based assay vs. only panel pathogens | 67 | 93.7 | 13 |
2. Using cases with final clinical diagnosis of empyema - conventional methods as reference-standard | Sensitivity | Specificity | |
Multiplex PCR-based assay vs. all pathogens | 15.8 | 80 | 27 |
Multiplex PCR-based assay vs. only panel pathogens | 100 | 84.2 | 18 |
3. Using cases with or without empyema diagnosis as reference-standard | Sensitivity | Specificity | |
Conventional methods (all pathogens) | 32.8 | 96.1 | 77 |
Conventional methods only panel pathogens | 3.3 | 99.3 | 67 |
Multiplex PCR-based assay | 18.6 | 97.3 | 73 |
4. Using cases with or without pleural fluid pH ≤ 7.2 as reference standard | Sensitivity | Specificity | |
Conventional methods (all pathogens) | 37.8 | 95.8 | 70 |
Conventional methods only panel pathogens | 2.7 | 99.3 | 100 |
Multiplex PCR-based assay | 13.5 | 97.1 | 56 |