Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.

<h4>Background</h4>A major obstacle to effectively treat and control tuberculosis is the absence of an accurate, rapid, and low-cost diagnostic tool. A new approach for the screening of patients for tuberculosis is the use of rapid diagnostic classification algorithms.<h4>Methods&l...

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Main Authors: Franz Ratzinger, Harald Bruckschwaiger, Martin Wischenbart, Bernhard Parschalk, Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes, Heimo Lagler, Alexandra Indra, Wolfgang Graninger, Stefan Winkler, Sanjeev Krishna, Michael Ramharter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0049658&type=printable
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author Franz Ratzinger
Harald Bruckschwaiger
Martin Wischenbart
Bernhard Parschalk
Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes
Heimo Lagler
Alexandra Indra
Wolfgang Graninger
Stefan Winkler
Sanjeev Krishna
Michael Ramharter
author_facet Franz Ratzinger
Harald Bruckschwaiger
Martin Wischenbart
Bernhard Parschalk
Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes
Heimo Lagler
Alexandra Indra
Wolfgang Graninger
Stefan Winkler
Sanjeev Krishna
Michael Ramharter
author_sort Franz Ratzinger
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>A major obstacle to effectively treat and control tuberculosis is the absence of an accurate, rapid, and low-cost diagnostic tool. A new approach for the screening of patients for tuberculosis is the use of rapid diagnostic classification algorithms.<h4>Methods</h4>We tested a previously published diagnostic algorithm based on four biomarkers as a screening tool for tuberculosis in a Central European patient population using an assessor-blinded cross-sectional study design. In addition, we developed an improved diagnostic classification algorithm based on a study population at a tertiary hospital in Vienna, Austria, by supervised computational statistics.<h4>Results</h4>The diagnostic accuracy of the previously published diagnostic algorithm for our patient population consisting of 206 patients was 54% (CI: 47%-61%). An improved model was constructed using inflammation parameters and clinical information. A diagnostic accuracy of 86% (CI: 80%-90%) was demonstrated by 10-fold cross validation. An alternative model relying solely on clinical parameters exhibited a diagnostic accuracy of 85% (CI: 79%-89%).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Here we show that a rapid diagnostic algorithm based on clinical parameters is only slightly improved by inclusion of inflammation markers in our cohort. Our results also emphasize the need for validation of new diagnostic algorithms in different settings and patient populations.
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spelling doaj-art-b2e6459e8e0e4183beaaabae9b96e0942025-08-20T03:10:18ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-01711e4965810.1371/journal.pone.0049658Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.Franz RatzingerHarald BruckschwaigerMartin WischenbartBernhard ParschalkDelmiro Fernandez-ReyesHeimo LaglerAlexandra IndraWolfgang GraningerStefan WinklerSanjeev KrishnaMichael Ramharter<h4>Background</h4>A major obstacle to effectively treat and control tuberculosis is the absence of an accurate, rapid, and low-cost diagnostic tool. A new approach for the screening of patients for tuberculosis is the use of rapid diagnostic classification algorithms.<h4>Methods</h4>We tested a previously published diagnostic algorithm based on four biomarkers as a screening tool for tuberculosis in a Central European patient population using an assessor-blinded cross-sectional study design. In addition, we developed an improved diagnostic classification algorithm based on a study population at a tertiary hospital in Vienna, Austria, by supervised computational statistics.<h4>Results</h4>The diagnostic accuracy of the previously published diagnostic algorithm for our patient population consisting of 206 patients was 54% (CI: 47%-61%). An improved model was constructed using inflammation parameters and clinical information. A diagnostic accuracy of 86% (CI: 80%-90%) was demonstrated by 10-fold cross validation. An alternative model relying solely on clinical parameters exhibited a diagnostic accuracy of 85% (CI: 79%-89%).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Here we show that a rapid diagnostic algorithm based on clinical parameters is only slightly improved by inclusion of inflammation markers in our cohort. Our results also emphasize the need for validation of new diagnostic algorithms in different settings and patient populations.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0049658&type=printable
spellingShingle Franz Ratzinger
Harald Bruckschwaiger
Martin Wischenbart
Bernhard Parschalk
Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes
Heimo Lagler
Alexandra Indra
Wolfgang Graninger
Stefan Winkler
Sanjeev Krishna
Michael Ramharter
Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
PLoS ONE
title Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
title_full Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
title_fullStr Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
title_full_unstemmed Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
title_short Rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis: an assessor blinded cross-sectional study.
title_sort rapid diagnostic algorithms as a screening tool for tuberculosis an assessor blinded cross sectional study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0049658&type=printable
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