Table 3 Stratified analyses for the evaluation of heterogeneity in studies with real-time PCR assay
Subgroup (Number of studies) | Summary diagnostic odds ratio (95% CI)a | Chi2 square test of heterogeneity | P value for heterogeneityb |
|---|---|---|---|
Study design | |||
 Cross-sectional (10) | 403.18 (120.05–1354.05) | 36.66 | < 0.001 |
 Case-control (8) | 73.86 (20.40–267.48) | 34.01 | < 0.001 |
Target sequence | |||
 IS6110 (11) | 144.74 (51.24–408.86) | 39.39 | < 0.001 |
 Other target (7) | 297.17 (30.22–2921.73) | 66.27 | < 0.001 |
Specimen type | |||
 Respiratory (11) | 598.12 (269.12–1329.32) | 19.09 | 0.039 |
 Non-respiratory (5) | 12.39 (6.67–22.73) | 3.57 | 0.468 |
 Both (2) | 202.47 (64.68–633.83) | 0.00 | 0.944 |
Region of study | |||
 TB high-burden country (8) | 281.86 (37.69–2107.75) | 90.46 | < 0.001 |
 Other country (10) | 160.73 (72.80–354.83) | 15.17 | 0.086 |
Quality of study | |||
 High-quality (7) | 926.97 (303.59–2830.38) | 12.83 | 0.046 |
 Medium-quality (8) | 76.77 (22.98–256.50) | 26.65 | < 0.001 |
 Low-quality (3) | 72.35 (4.47–1170.04) | 19.07 | < 0.001 |