Table 1.
Characteristics of studies included in the analysis.
Figure 1.
Methodological quality graph of all 17 studies.
Data are presented as a percentages bar across all included studies, according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies lists.
Table 2.
Technical details of the PCR methods used in the included studies.
Table 3.
Synthesized statistics with two definition criteria.
Figure 2.
SROC curves from the bivariate model for proven and probable cases.
The region enclosed by the dashed line (confidence contour) contains likely combinations of the mean value of sensitivity and specificity. The region enclosed by the dotted line (prediction contour) demonstrates more uncertainty as to where the likely values of sensitivity and specificity might occur for individual studies. SROC, summary receiver operating characteristic.
Figure 3.
Forest plot of subgroup analyses for sensitivity and specificity.
EORTC/MSG, similar to the European Organization of the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria 2008; Higher prevalence, prevalence above 23%; HM, hematologic malignancy; Primer AF, A.fumigatus-specific primer; Commercial CWD, commercial kit for cell wall disruption; Commercial EX, commercial kit for DNA extraction; * P<0.05; ** P<0.01; *** P<0.001.
Figure 4.
Fagan's nomogram for calculating posttest probabilities (PTPs).
A straight edge was used to link the pretest probability of IA with the PTP, by crossing the likelihood ratio line at a point that describes the results obtained. The solid line extends from the prevalence to the PLR; the dotted line extends from the prevalence to the NLR.