Table 1

Summary of the results of NASBA-OC testing of different clinical samples.

Clinical Sample

Number of Samples NASBA-OC positive

Number of Samples NASBA-OC negative

Blood samples healthy controls from Sudan (n = 50)

0

50

Blood samples confirmed VL cases from Sudan (n = 30)

28

2

Skin biopsies of patients with other skin diseases from The Netherlands (n = 5)

0

5

Skin biopsies of patients with confirmed CL from Suriname (n = 27)

27

0

Skin biopsies of patients with confirmed CL from Brazil (n = 43)

42

1

Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) estimated at a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the NASBA-OC on different clinical samples

NASBA-OC employed on blood samples

Sensitivity

93.3% (95% CI: 76.5% - 98.8%)

Specificity

100% (95 CI: 91.1% - 100%)

PPV

100% (95% CI: 85.0 - 100%)

NPV

96.2% (95 CI: 85.7% - 99.3%)

NASBA-OC employed on skin biopsies

Sensitivity

98.6% (95% CI: 91.2% - 99.9%)

Specificity

100% (95% CI: 46.3% - 100%)

PPV

100% (95% CI: 93.4% - 100%)

NPV

83.3% (95% CI: 36.5% - 99.1%)

Mugasa et al. Parasites & Vectors 2010 3:13   doi:10.1186/1756-3305-3-13