Table 2. Meta-regression analysis for different parameters compared with composite reference standard.
| Variables | Subgroup | No. of studies | No. of specimens | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Meta regression p value | Specificity (95% CI) | Meta regression p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB type | PTB | 3 | 252 | 83% (64–100%) | 0.56 | 99% (96–100%) | 0.05 |
| EPTB | 9 | 929 | 68% (53–84%) | 99% (98–100%) | |||
| Specimen type | Plasma | 8 | 986 | 73% (56–91%) | 0.28 | 97% (94–99%) | 0.05 |
| Non-Plasma | 6 | 717 | 60% (37–83%) | 99% (98–100%) | |||
| Target gene | IS6110 | 9 | 1001 | 72% (56–88%) | 0.07 | 100% (99–100%) | <0.01 |
| Non-IS6110 | 2 | 326 | 32% (2–66%) | 96% (78–100%) | |||
| PCR method | Real-Time PCR | 10 | 1069 | 63% (45–81%) | 0.28 | 98% (96–100%) | 0.36 |
| Digital PCR | 4 | 634 | 80% (56–100%) | 97% (93–100%) | |||
| Study design | Prospective | 6 | 717 | 60% (37–83%) | 0.28 | 99% (98–100%) | 0.05 |
| Case-control | 8 | 986 | 73% (56–91%) | 97% (94–99%) | |||
| Specimen condition | Fresh | 2 | 204 | 60% (20–100%) | 0.66 | 100% (99–100%) | 0.01 |
| Frozen | 12 | 1499 | 69% (53–84%) | 97% (95–99%) | |||
| Patient selection method | Convenience | 6 | 464 | 83% (71–95%) | 0.03 | 98% (96–100%) | 0.14 |
| Consecutive | 8 | 1239 | 53% (37–69%) | 97% (95–100%) |
CI, confidence interval; TB, tuberculosis; PTB, pulmonary tuberculosis; EPTB, extrapulmonary tuberculosis; PCR, polymerase chain reaction.