Table 4. Accuracy estimates from subgroup analysis.
| Variable | Subgroups (data points) | Pooled Sensitivity (95% CI), % | Pooled Specificity (95% CI), % | Positive LR (95% CI) | Negative LR (95% CI) | DOR (95%CI) | I 2 ¥ | P value € |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Prior to 2005 (15) | 96.5 (93.4–98.2) | 98.0 (95.7–99.0) | 46.01 (22.69–93.31) | 0.019 (0.012–0.031) | 2191.76 (1055.31–4552.04) | 15% | Reference |
| After 2005 (58) | 95.8 (93.9–97.1) | 99.0 (98.5–99.3) | 91.02 (59.72–138.72) | 0.031 (0.019–0.049) | 3117.86 (1494.36–6505.14) | 91% | 0.87 | |
| Location of test | Developing countries (27) | 91.6 (87.0–94.7) | 98.4 (97.4–99.1) | 52.96 (31.41–89.31) | 0.055 (0.027–0.115) | 1113.39 (450.40–2752.33) | 85% | Reference |
| Developed countries (46) | 97.4 (96.0–98.4) | 99.1 (98.4–99.5) | 100.67 (59.74–169.62) | 0.020 (0.013–0.030) | 5348.36 (2332.97–12261.18) | 90% | 0.02 | |
| Fluid | Serum (42) | 96.5 (93.9–98.0) | 99.0 (98.4–99.4) | 93.81 (56.93–154.56) | 0.026 (0.016–0.043) | 3927.64 (1800.18–8569.35) | 80% | Reference |
| Whole blood (13) | 94.7 (89.1–97.5) | 98.6 (96.3–99.4) | 55.56 (20.80–148.43) | 0.03 (0.01–0.09) | 1674.60 (268.43–10446.91) | 95% | 0.21 | |
| Plasma (9) | 97.6 (93.0–99.2) | 99.0 (97.3–99.6) | 93.78 (35.68–246.49) | 0.017 (0.007–0.039) | 4447.22 (1451.08–13629.73) | 78% | 0.83 | |
| Oral fluid (9) | 93.9 (89.7–96.4) | 98.6 (96.3–99.6) | 66.02 (18.88–230.81) | 0.070 (0.037–0.131) | 1178.43 (226.25–6137.72) | 93% | 0.16 | |
| Ref test | Confirmatory tests-RIBA/PCR (57) | 96.2 (94.4–97.5) | 98.9 (98.3–99.3) | 85.71 (53.92–136.23) | 0.027 (0.017–0.043) | 3377.26 (1478.29–7716.04) | 91% | Reference |
| EAI/ELISA alone (16) | 95.2 (91.8–97.2) | 98.6 (97.6–99.3) | 62.00 (34.97–109.94) | 0.035 (0.018–0.071) | 2158.42 (852.59–5464.29) | 81% | 0.82 | |
| Study design | Case-control (46) | 95.7 (93.1–97.3) | 98.5 (97.7–99.0) | 56.67 (39.22–87.77) | 0.030 (0.019–0.048) | 2258.37 (1141.47–4468.10) | 82% | Reference |
| Cross-sectional (27) | 96.4 (94.2–97.8) | 99.2 (98.5–99.6) | 116.99 (58.58–233.65) | 0.078 (0.043–0.140) | 4968.90 (1385.21–14824.01) | 94% | 0.36 | |
| Source of sera β | Hospital/clinics (34) | 95.1 (92.7–96.7) | 98.9 (98.0–99.4) | 83.50 (45.60–152.87) | 0.037 (0.0020–0.068) | 2499.08 (868.79–7188.56) | 94% | Reference |
| Blood banks (34) | 96.8 (93.6–98.4) | 98.9 (98.2–99.4) | 83.10 (48.30–142.99) | 0.023 (0.013–0.040) | 3518.01 (1697.79–7289.75) | 74% | 0.46 | |
| Score α | <15 (29) | 97.0 (94.8–98.3) | 99.0 (98.3–99.) | 89.91 (52.81–153.06) | 0.022 (0.014–0.035) | 3990.06 (1936.62–8220.83) | 70% | Reference |
| ≥15 (43) | 95.3 (92.7–97.0) | 98.8 (97.9–99.3) | 70.98 (43.09–116.93) | 0.035 (0.002–0.06) | 2275.58 (930.61–5564.35) | 92% | 0.243 |
LR = Likelihood ratio, DOR = Diagnostic Odds Ratio, I2¥ = inconsistency index test for heterogeneity (<25 = low, >25 to 50% = moderate; >50 to 75% = substantial, & >75% = considerable statistical heterogeneity), € = P value determined from meta-regression model, α = score of one study not calculated, β = source of sera from five studies not known.