Skip to main content
. 2022 Jan 18;27(5):274–287. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2021-111828

Table 3.

Results of the bivariate meta-analyses: pooled sensitivity and specificity with 95% CI (created by the authors)

Test evaluations included in analysis (n) Paediatric study participants included in analysis (n) Sensitivity
(95% CI)
Specificity
(95% CI)
All studies 17 6287 64.2 (57.4 to 70.5) 99.1 (98.2 to 99.5)
Subgroup analysis
(a) Symptom status
 - symptomatic population 13 3407 71.8 (63.6 to 78.8) 98.7 (96.6 to 99.5)
 - asymptomatic population 10 2431 56.2 (47.6 to 64.4) 98.6 (97.3 to 99.3)
 - mixed population 3 419 63.4 (37.3 to 83.5) 98.7 (90.8 to 99.8)
(b) Setting
 - community testing site 8 2680 64.1 (54.7 to 72.6) 98.7 (97.6 to 99.3)
 - hospital test centre/emergency department 9 3607 64.1 (53.8 to 73.2) 99.4 (98.2 to 99.8)
(c) Sample type (index test)
 - nasopharyngeal 10 3505 64.3 (54.7 to 73.0) 99.4 (98.5 to 99.8)
 - not nasopharyngeal 7 2782 64.6 (54.4 to 73.7) 98.5 (96.7 to 99.3)
(d) Sample type (reference standard)
 - nasopharyngeal 11 3670 65.4 (56.3 to 73.5) 99.1 (97.7 to 99.7)
 - not nasopharyngeal 6 2617 64.2 (53.1 to 74.0) 98.9 (97.6 to 99.5)
(e) RT-PCR positivity threshold
 - Ct cut-off value=25 5 2062 92.4 (72.7 to 98.2) 92.7 (85.4 to 96.5)
 - Ct cut-off value=30 6 2271 83.3 (63.9 to 93.4) 96.1 (91.8 to 98.2)
(f) Publication status
 - preprint 5 1235 63.2 (55.6 to 70.3) 98.9 (95.9 to 99.7)
 - peer reviewed 12 5052 64.3 (54.8 to 72.7) 99.1 (98.1 to 99.6)

Ct, cycle threshold; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.