TABLE 2.
Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of laboratory diagnosis of measles using filter paper blood samplesa
| Diagnostic method | Sensitivity (%) | Specificity (%) | Positive predictive value (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MV-specific IgM | 95 | 96 | 99 |
| MV-specific RT-PCR | 48 | 100 | 100 |
| Combination of IgM and RT-PCR | 99 | 96 | 99 |
a
As the gold standard, a previously described method for the laboratory diagnosis of measles was used, which is based on measurement of MV-specific IgM and IgG antibody levels in plasma and, in doubtful cases, MV-specific RT-PCR with throat swab samples (6).