Table A

Table �B

Table C

References

Table A QUADAS tool [As supplied by authors]

Item	Yes	No	Unclear
1. Was the spectrum of patients representative of the patients who will receive the test in practice?	( )	( )	( )
2. Were selection criteria clearly described?	( )	( )	( )
3. Is the reference standard likely to correctly classify the target condition?	( )	( )	( )
4. Is the time period between reference standard and index test short enough to be reasonably sure that the target condition did not change between the two tests?	( )	( )	( )
5. Did the whole sample or a random selection of the sample, receive verification using a reference standard of diagnosis?	( )	( )	( )
6. Did patients receive the same reference standard regardless of the index test results?	( )	( )	( )
7. Was the reference standard independent of the index test (i.e. the index test did not form part of the reference standard)?	( )	( )	( )
8. Was the execution of the index test described in sufficient detail to permit replication of the test?	( )	( )	( )
9. Was the execution of the reference standard described in sufficient detail to permit its replication?	( )	( )	( )
10. Were the index test results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the reference standard?	( )	( )	( )
11. Were the reference standard results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the index test?	( )	( )	( )
12. Were the same clinical data available when tests results were interpreted as would be available when the test is used in practice?	( )	( )	( )
13. Were uninterpretable/intermediate test results reported?	( )	( )	( )
14. Were withdrawals from the study explained?	( )	( )	( )

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Table B QUADAS results of the 13 studies evaluating rK39 dipsticks included in the meta-analysis

Studies

Reference

QUADAS items

Total score*

Goswami et al, 2003

w15

Yes

n.a.

Chappuis et al, 2003

w16

Yes

n.a.

Yes

Sundar et al, 2002

w17

Yes

n.a.

9.5

Bern et al, 2000

w18

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Sundar et al, 1998

w19

Yes

n.a.

Zijltra et al, 2001

w20

Yes

n.a.

Yes

8.5

Schallig et al, 2002

w21

Yes

n.a.

Brandonisio et al, 2002

w22

Yes

n.a.

Carvalho et al, 2003

w23

Yes

n.a.

9.5

Sarker et al, 2003

w24

Yes

n.a.

Boelaert et al, 2004

w25

Yes

n.a.

Yes

Veeken et al, 2003

w26

Yes

n.a.

6.5

Iqbal et al, 2002

w27

Yes

n.a.

5.5

U, unclear; n.a., not assessed

*Reply to items: "yes" = 1; "unclear" = 1/2; "no" or "n.a" = 0; the QUADAS score was obtained by adding up the scores of the 14 items.

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Table C QUADAS results of the 30 studies evaluating the DAT included in the meta-analysis

Studies

Reference

QUADAS items

Total score

Zijltra et al, 1992

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Harith et al, 1987

Yes

n.a.

Harith et al, 1986

Yes

n.a.

Boelaert et al, 1999

Yes

n.a.

Yes

10.5

Abdallah et al, 2004

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Lito et al, 2002

Yes

n.a.

5.5

Agarwal et al, 1996

Yes

n.a.

Oskam et al, 1999

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Garcez et al, 1996

Yes

n.a.

Nyakundi et al, 1994

w10

Yes

n.a.

Singla et al, 1993

w11

Yes

n.a.

Zijlstra et al, 1991

w12

Yes

n.a.

Andrade et al, 1989

w13

Yes

n.a.

Abdel-Hameed et al, 1989

w14

Yes

n.a.

Chappuis et al, 2003

w16

Yes

n.a.

Yes

11.5

Bern et al, 2000

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Schallig et al, 2002

Yes

n.a.

6.5

Boelaert et al, 2004

Yes

n.a.

Yes

Veeken et al, 2003

Yes

n.a.

El-Safi et al, 1989

Yes

n.a.

7.5

De Korte et al, 1990

Yes

n.a.

Pal et al, 1991

Yes

n.a.

7.5

Sinha et al, 1994

Yes

n.a.

5.5

Jha et al, 1996

Yes

n.a.

Joshi et al, 1999

Yes

n.a.

6.5

Boelaert et al, 1999b

Yes

n.a.

Yes

Aoun et al, 2000

Yes

n.a.

5.5

Alam et al, 1996

Yes

n.a.

Bagchi et al, 1998

Yes

n.a.

5.5

Meredith et al, 1995

Yes

n.a.

U, unclear; n.a., not assessed

*Reply to items: "yes" = 1; "unclear" = 1/2; "no" or "n.a" = 0; the QUADAS score was obtained by adding up the scores of the 14 items.

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Brandonisio O, Fumarola L, Maggi P, Cavaliere R, Spinelli R, Pastore G. Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2002;21(6):461-4.
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Sarker CB, Momen A, Jamal MF, Siddiqui NI, Siddiqui FM, Chowdhury KS, et al. Immunochromatographic (rK39) strip test in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Bangladesh. Mymensingh Med J 2003;12(2):93-7.
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Sinha R, Sehgal S. Comparative evaluation of serological tests in Indian kala-azar. J Trop Med Hyg 1994;97(6):333-40.
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