Table 1.
Characteristics of the 7 Cross-Sectional Studies Included in the Pooled Estimates of Sensitivity
| Method of Diagnosis | Extent of Diseases, n/N (%) | Quality Assessment | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Author, Year (Reference) | Country | Comparator(s) | Participants, n | Patient Selection Method | Agea | Culture, n (%) | Clinical, n (%) | Pulmonary Tuberculosis, n (%) | Acid-Fast Bacilli Smear Positive | Cavitation on Chest X Ray | Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positives, n | Risk of Biasb | Concern Regarding Applicability |
| Fukushima, 2018 [22] |
Japan | QFT-GIT and T-SPOT.TB |
77 | Unclear | 79.9 (16.4) | 77 (100) | 0 (0) | 77 (100) | NR | NR | 0 | High | Highc |
| Hoffmann, 2016 [23] |
Germany | QFT-GIT | 57 | Convenience | NR | 24 (42) | 33 (58) | NR | NR | NR | 2 | High | Low |
| Hong, 2019 [24] |
South Korea | QFT-GIT | 33 | Consecutive | 17 (17, 24) d | 17e (52) | 16e (48) | 33 (100) | 3/33 (9) | 3/33 (9) | 0 | High | Low |
| Horne, 2018 [25] |
United States and Japan | QFT-GIT | 164 | Consecutive | 71 (46, 83)f | 164 (100) | 0 (0) | 145 (88) | NR | NR | 4 | High | Low |
| Petruccioli, 2017 [26] |
Italy | QFT-GIT | 69 | Unclear | 35 (28, 44) | 49 (71) | 20 (29) | 63 (91) | NR | 46/63 (73) | 0g | High | Low |
| Takasaki, 2018 [27] |
Japan | QFT-GIT and T-SPOT.TB |
99 | Unclear | 42 (29, 55)h | 99 (100) | 0 (0) | 97 (98) | 66/99 (67) | NR | 0 | High | Low |
| Yi, 2016 [28] |
Japan | QFT-GIT | 162 | Unclear | 59 (39, 70)i | 162 (100) | 0 (0) | 162 (100) | 138/162 (85) | NR | 0 | High | Low |
Abbreviations: NR, not reported; QFT-GIT, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube; T-SPOT.TB; .
aMean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range).
bSee Supplementary Table 7 for detailed explanations of these quality ratings.
cThe results of the QFT-GIT were interpreted using criteria that were different from the manufacturer’s instructions.
dThere were 25 patients aged ≤18 years, the youngest of whom was 15.
eThese numbers differ from those reported in the article. This is the result of contacting the author and reconfirming.
fPatients excluded if aged >70 years in 1 site and >85 years in another site.
gPatients living with human immunodeficiency virus were excluded.
hPatients aged >70 years were excluded.
iPatients aged >80 years were excluded.