Smear Microscopy for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan

Table 1

Mycobacterial culture and PCR results stratified by smear scores.

NRL smear score	Total	Culture positive for mycobacteria		Total	PCR positive for mycobacteria		Total	Culture or PCR positive for mycobacteria		Total	Culture or PCR positive for MTBC
		Number	%; (95% CI)		Number	%; (95% CI)		Number	%; (95% CI)		Number	%; (95% CI)
Negative	123	31	25.2; (17.5–32.9)	82	49	59.8; (48.8–70.8)	113	80	71.0; (63.4–79.4)	113	70	62.0; (53.0–71.0)
Scanty	110	68	62.0; (52.9–71.1)	38	37	97.4; (95.8–99.8)	106	105	99.1; (98.3–99.9)	106	98	92.5; (87.5–97.5)
1+	77	43	55.8; (44.8–66.8)	34	34	100; (0.00-0.00)	77	77	100; (0.00-0.00)	77	74	96.0; (92.0–100)
2+	49	34	69.4; (56.4–82.4)	12	12	100; (0.00-0.00)	46	46	100; (0.00-0.00)	46	44	96.0; (93.2–99.2)
3+	24	20	83.3; (68.3–98.3)	3	3	100; (0.00-0.00)	23	23	100; (0.00-0.00)	23	22	96.0; (93.8–99.8)
Total	383	196	51.2; (46.2–56.2)	169	135	80.0; (74.0–86.0)	365	331	91.0; (87.4–95.4)	365	308	84.7; (80.7–88.1)

NRL: National Reference Laboratory.