TABLE II. Relationship between laboratory tests results and operational classification of leprosy.

		Operational classification
		Paucibacillary (n = 19)		Multibacillary (n = 26)
Variable		FI	%	FI	%	Total (n)	p a
BI of slit-skin smear							< 0.001
	Positive	-	-	12	46.2	12
	Negative	19	100	14	53.8	33
qPCR of slit-skin							0.181
	Positive	3	15.8	10	38.5	13
	Negative	16	84.2	16	61.5	32
BI of saliva							1
	Positive	-	-	1	3.8	1
	Negative	19	100	25	96.2	44
qPCR of saliva							0.756
	Positive	6	31.6	10	38.5	16
	Negative	13	68.4	16	61.5	29

a : two-tailed Fisher's exact test; BI: bacteriological index; FI: simple absolute frequency; qPCR: quantitative polymerase chain reaction.