Table 3

Summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR) and negative LR for the Centor score, calculated using a bivariate random effects model

Centor score

No. of studies

Sensitivity (95% CI)

Specificity (95% CI)

+ LR (95% CI)

- LR (95% CI)

≥ 1

11

0.95 (0.91 to 0.97)

0.18 (0.12 to 0.26)

1.16 (1.08 to 1.25)

0.27 (0.16 to 0.46)

≥ 2

12

0.79 (0.71 to 0.86)

0.55 (0.45 to 0.65)

1.76 (1.51 to 2.07)

0.37 (0.29 to 0.48)

≥ 3

11

0.49 (0.38 to 0.60)

0.82 (0.72 to 0.88)

2.68 (1.92 to 3.75)

0.62 (0.52 to 0.74)

4

11

0.18 (0.12 to 0.27)

0.95 (0.92 to 0.97)

3.85 (2.05 to 7.24)

0.86 (0.78 to 0.93)

Aalbers et al. BMC Medicine 2011 9:67   doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-67