Development and evaluation of a novel fast broad-range PCR and sequencing assay (FBR-PCR/S) using dual priming oligonucleotides targeting the ITS/LSU gene regions for rapid diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases: multi-year experience in a large Canadian healthcare zone

Table 6 Performance of molecular assay and standard methods compared to microscopy for clinical specimens including contrived BALs^a

		CW Stain/Microscopy
		Positive	Negative	Total
FBR-PCR/S Assay^b	Positive	8	42	50
	Negative	2	62	64
	Total	10	104	114
^bSensitivity (80%, 8/10), specificity (59.6%, 62/104), PPV(16%, 8/50), NPV (96.9%, 62/64) and efficiency 61.4% (70/114)

		CW Stain/Microscopy
		Positive	Negative	Total
Standard methods^c	Positive	8	51	59
	Negative	2	53	55
	Total	10	104	114
^cSensitivity (80%, 8/10), specificity (59.6%, 62/104), PPV (13.6%, 8/59), NPV (93.4%, 53/55) and efficiency 53.5% (61/114)

^aIncludes the results of all BALs and clinical specimens enrolled in the study
^cStandard methods: All isolates were recovered from fungal culture. Yeasts were identified by morphology and Vitek MS while molds were identified by morphology and conventional PCR targeted to ITS1 and ITS2 gene regions

ISSN: 1471-2334