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Table 1 Diagnostic Accuracy of Meconium Testing

From: The cost-effectiveness of screening tools used in the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a modelled analysis

Study

Study Information

Criteria for Positive Screen

Sensitivity (SD)a

Specificity (SD)a

1. Bakhireva et al., 2014 [25]

Sample Size = 60

Positive Cases Included = 28

Positive Cases = ≥ 0.21 oz. alcohol/day at enrollment or ≥ 2.0 oz. of alcohol/drinking day.

Controls = No binge drinking in the periconceptional period; ≤ 0.14 oz. alcohol/day in periconceptional period; and no drinking at enrollment.

FAEEs Tested = Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Linoleate.

Limit of Detection = 50 ng/g

>  600 ng/g all four FAEEs to meconium.

100% b (1.9%)

13% (5.9%)

2. Ostrea et al., 2006 [26]

Sample Size = 124

Positives Cases Included = 93

Positive Cases = Mothers who used alcohol at the time of conception and/or any time during pregnancy.

Controls = Mothers who reported no alcohol intake around the time of conception or in pregnancy.

FAEEs Tested = Ethyl Myristate

Limit of detection = 50 ng/g

>  50 ng/g ethyl myristate to meconium.

68% c (4.8%)

29% c (8.0%)

3. Bearer et al., 2003 [27]

Sample Size = 27

Positives Cases Included = 21

Positive Cases = ≥ 1.0 oz. alcohol/day or ≥ 2 incidents of binge drinking/month in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Controls = Mothers who abstained from drinking during pregnancy.

FAEEs Tested = Ethyl Oleate

Limit of Detection = NA

>  13 ng/g ethyl oleate to meconium.

100% b (2.1%)

67% (17.8%)

4. Chan et al., 2003 [28]

Sample Size = 200

Positive Cases Included = 17

Positive Cases = Mothers who reported any drinking in pregnancy.

Controls = Mothers who reported no drinking in pregnancy.

FAEEs Tested = Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Linoleate.

Limit of Detection = 50 ng/g

>  600 ng/g all four FAEEs to meconium. c

100% b (2.3%)

98% (1.0%)

  1. a If SD were not reported, they were calculated using the beta distribution variance formula
  2. b Sensitivity and specificity were assumed to be 99% instead of 100%, as the beta distribution calculates a variance of 0 for mean values of 100%
  3. c Estimates were taken from a systematic review and not reported in the corresponding study