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Table 2 Likelihood ratios of malaria when the parasite detection test is positive, according to the prevalence of infection in the general population, and to the sensitivity and specificity of the test for the detection of parasites. Clinically useful tests are in bolded type, tests of intermediate utility are in standard type, clinically unhelpful tests in italics

From: Utility of the detection of Plasmodiumparasites for the diagnosis of malaria in endemic areas

Prevalence of infection in the general population

Sensitivity = 0.95

Sensitivity = 0.85

 

Spec. = 0.99

Spec. = 0.95

Spec. = 0.99

Spec. = 0.95

0%

95.0

19.0

85.0

17.0

0.1%

86.8

18.7

78.4

16.7

1%

49.0

16.1

46.2

14.7

2%

33.0

14.0

31.7

12.9

5%

16.7

10.0

16.4

9.4

10%

9.1

6.8

9.0

6.5

15%

6.3

5.1

6.2

5.0

20%

4.8

4.1

4.8

4.0

30%

3.2

3.0

3.2

3.0

40%

2.5

2.3

2.5

2.3

50%

2.0

1.9

2.0

1.9

60%

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.6

70%

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.4

80%

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

90%

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1