Table 2. Probit analysis of the sensitivity profile of the different RT-PCR methods reported.
| Method used for RT-PCR | Protocols | Percentage | Low sensitivity# | Positive performance*50% [CI 95%] | Positive performance*95% [CI 95%] |
| RT nested PCR | [12], [14], [11], l [13], [15], [16],a | 32.6% (15/46) | 80% (12/15) | 104 GE/ml[3×103−4.2×104 GE/ml] | 4×106 GE/ml[5.7×105−3.6×108 GE/ml] |
| RT heminested PCR | [17] | 4.3% (2/46) | 50% (1/2) | NP | NP |
| TaqMan real time PCR | [12],[[14], [18], [14], [19]–[20], [21], [13],[22],[23],a; b | 54.3% (25/46) | 76% (19/25) | 104GE/ml[2.8×103−4×104 GE/ml] | 4.2×106GE/ml[5.2×105−4.4×108GE/ml] |
| SYBR Green real time PCR | [18], [29],a | 8.6% (4/46) | 50% (2/4) | 6.3×104GE/ml.[NP] | 3×105 GE/ml[NP] |
NP: Not enough data for statistical analysis; a: in-house protocol; b: Commercial kit;
*Probit analysis.
# Sensitivity below 103 GE/ml.
Data fit into the model with p<0.05.