Table 2.
Algorithm for patient categorization into different categories of the composite reference standard
| CRS category | Result |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFB smear | Culture | Symptoms/ signsa | Radiologyb | Histology/ cytologyc | Follow-up at 3 mod | |
| Confirmed TB | +/− | + | + | +/− | +/− | + |
| Probable TB | +/− | − | + | + | + | + |
| +/− | − | + | + | − | + | |
| +/− | − | + | − | + | + | |
| Possible TB | +/− | − | + | − | − | + |
| Not TB | − | − | + | − | − | − |
a
As described in Table 1.
b
For radiology, a specimen was positive if the presence of infiltrates or cavities, hilar lymph nodes, pleural effusions, or tuberculomas was noted.
c
For histology/cytology, a specimen was positive if the presence of caseation necrosis with epitheloid granulomas was reported irrespective of the visual presence or absence of acid-fast bacilli.
d
For follow-up at 3 months, a specimen was positive if the patient was on antitubercular treatment (ATT) and negative if the patient responded to non-ATT.