A meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the direct agglutination test and rK39 dipstick for visceral leishmaniasis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the performance of the direct agglutination test and rK39 dipstick for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Data sources

Medline, citation tracking, January 1986 to December 2004. Selection criteria Original studies evaluating the direct agglutination test or the rK39 dipstick with clinical visceral leishmaniasis as target condition; adequate reference classification; and absolute numbers of true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative observations available or derivable from the data presented.

Results

30 studies evaluating the direct agglutination test and 13 studies evaluating the rK39 dipstick met the inclusion criteria. The combined sensitivity estimates of the direct agglutination test and the rK39 dipstick were 94.8%

SUBMITTER: Chappuis F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1592383 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature