TABLE 3.

Sensitivities and NPVs of culture and modified PCR of throat swabs and gargles for the detection of meningococcal carriage

Method(s)a	Sensitivity (95% CIb)	NPV (%)
TS culture	72 (51–93)	93.4
TS PCR	56 (33–79)	89.9
Gargle culture	56 (33–79)	89.9
Gargle PCR	50 (27–73)	88.8
TS culture + TS PCR	83 (66–100)	95.9
TS culture + gargle culture	94 (83–100)	98.6
TS culture + gargle PCR	83 (66–100)	95.9
TS PCR + gargle culture	83 (66–100)	95.9
TS PCR + gargle PCR	61 (38–84)	91.0
Gargle culture + gargle PCR	83 (66–100)	95.9
TS culture + TS PCR + gargle culture	100 (82–100)	100
TS culture + TS PCR + gargle PCR	83 (66–100)	95.9
TS PCR + gargle culture + gargle PCR	89 (75–100)	97.3
TS culture + TS PCR + gargle culture + gargle PCR	100y (82–100)	100

^aTS, throat swab.

^bCI, confidence interval.