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Table 5 Performance of procalcitonin at birth, at 12–24 h, and 36–48 h of life for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis of vertical transmission (cutoff points selected according to Youden's index).

From: Evaluation of procalcitonin for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis of vertical transmission

 

At birth n = 205

12–24 h of life n = 212

36–48 h of life n = 193

Cutoff, ng/ml

≥0.55

≥4.7

≥1.7

Sensitivity, % (95% CI)

75.4 (62.9 – 84.8)

73.8 (61.6 – 83.2)

77.6 (64.1 – 87.0%)

Specificity (95% CI)

72.3 (64.6 – 78.9)

80.8 (73.8 – 86.3)

79.2 (71.8 – 85.0)

Youden's index

0.48

0.55

0.57

PPV (95% CI)

51.2 (40.7 – 61.6)

60.8 (49.4 – 71.1)

55.9 (44.1 – 67.1)

NPV (95% CI)

88.4 (81.5 – 93.0)

88.4 (82.0 – 92.7)

91.2 (84.9 – 95.0)

LR+ (95% CI)

2.72 (2.02 – 3.67)

3.84 (2.68 – 5.50)

3.72 (2.62 – 5.29)

LR- (95% CI)

0.34 (0.21 – 0.55)

0.32 (0.21–0.50)

0.28 (0.17 – 0.48)

  1. PPV: positive predictive value, NPV: negative predictive value, LR+: likelihood ratio of a positive result, LR-: likelihood ratio of a negative result.