Table I.
Comparison of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene detection methods.
| Parameter | IHC | FISH | RT-PCR | NGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Fast | Fast | Slow | Slow |
| Expense | Cheap | Expensive | Expensive | Expensive |
| Specificity | Relatively high | High | High | High |
| Sensitivity | Relatively high | Relatively high | High | High |
| Variant classification | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Application range | Most extensive | Extensive | Extensive | Not extensive |
| Operation difficulty | Simple | Complex | Simple | Complex |
IHC, immunohistochemistry; FISH, fluorescence in situ hybridization; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; NGS, next-generation sequencing.