Table 2 The diagnostic performance of AFB, culture, pathological examination, Xpert and Ultra, using culture or final diagnosis as gold-standard

For culture-positive TB patients (n = 11)

AFB

63.6 (7/11)

31.6–87.6

100 (47/47)

90.6–100

100 (7/7)

56.1–100

92.2 (47/51)

80.3–97.5

Pathology

72.7 (8/11)

39.3–92.7

85.1 (40/47)

71.1–93.3

53.3 (8/15)

27.4–77.8

93.0 (40/43)

79.9–98.2

Xpert

90.9 (10/11)

57.1–99.5

89.4 (42/47)

76.1–96.0

66.7 (10/15)

38.7–87.0

97.7 (42/43)

86.2–99.9

Ultra

90.9 (10/11)

57.1–99.5

59.6 (28/47)

44.3–73.3

34.5 (10/29)

18.6–54.3

96.6 (28/29)

80.4–99.8

For culture-positive and negative TB patients (n = 96)

AFB

8.3 (8/96)

3.9–16.2

100 (47/47)

90.6–100

100 (8/8)

59.8–100

34.8 (47/135)

27.0–43.5

Culture

11.5 (11/96)

6.1–20.0

100 (47/47)

90.6–100

100 (11/11)

67.9–100

35.6 (47/132)

27.6–44.5

Pathology

42.7 (41/96)

32.8–53.2

85.1 (40/47)

71.1–93.3

85.4 (41/48)

72.8–92.8

42.1 (40/95)

32.2–52.7

Xpert

64.6 (62/96)^a

54.1–73.9

89.4 (42/47)

76.1–96.0

92.5 (62/67)

86.1–99.0

55.3 (42/76)

43.8–66.7

Ultra

78.1 (75/96)^a

68.3–85.7

59.6 (28/47)

44.3–73.3

79.8 (75/94)

71.5–88.1

57.1 (28/49)

42.8–71.5