TABLE 3.

Comparison of birth weights and proportions of low birth weight in women positive for malaria by microscopy, OptiMAL, or PCR

Test and/or malaria (n)	Birth wta		OR (95% CI), probabilityb	Probability (positive against negative)c
	Positive test result	Negative test result
Microscopy, maternal malaria (509)	2,550 ± 515 (41) [39.0]	3,022 ± 522 (468) [10.7]	5.4 (2.7–10.7), <0.0001	<0.0001
Microscopy, placental malaria (509)	2,639 ± 503 (73) [27.4]	3,043 ± 520 (436) [10.6]	3.2 (1.8–5.8), <0.0001	<0.0001
OptiMAL (171)	2,608 ± 594 (37) [40.5]	3,007 ± 525 (134) [8.2]	7.6 (3.1–18.8), <0.0001	0.0001
OptiMAL, placental malaria (73)	2,428 ± 425 (28) [53.6]	2,770 ± 447 (45) [11.1]	9.2 (2.8–30.3), <0.0001	0.004
PCR (135)	2,812 ± 509 (70) [24.9]	2,964 ± 602 (65) [9.2]	3.2 (1.2–8.6), 0.025	0.11
PCR, placental malaria (65)	2,628 ± 430 (47) [34.0]	2,640 ± 711 (18) [16.7]	2.6 (0.65–10.2) 0.18	0.93

^aMean birth weight (in grams) ± SD with the number of individuals shown in parentheses and the percentage of low-birth-weight babies (<2,500 g) shown in brackets.

^bOdds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI) shown in parentheses, followed by the probability of low birth weight.

^cProbability of low birth weight (positive test result against negative test result).