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TABLE 1.

Summary of diagnostic testing by antigen-capture ELISA and RT-PCR during the EHF outbreak in Gulu, Uganda

Assay No. of samples tested No. of positive samples No. of false positivesa No. of false negativesb No. of PCR+ Ag+ samples No. of PCR+ Ag samples
Early detection Late detection
Antigen-capture ELISA 1,771 282 1 0
RT-PCR 1,083 246 3e 4
Total 196 17c 20d
a

False positives were defined as samples that initially tested positive by a particular assay but tested negative with a subsequent sample from the same patient and for which all other diagnostic tests were and continued to be negative.

b

False negatives were defined as samples that tested negative by nested RT-PCR and positive by antigen capture.

c

Represents 13 patients for which the maximum time between PCR+ Ag samples was 72 to 96 h.

d

Represents 18 patients for which the maximum time between PCR+ Ag samples was 48 to 72 h.

e

There were an additional 10 potential false positives that were unresolvable.