Diagnostic accuracy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Int J Infect DisMay 27, 2026 (epub)
Haidi Lv, Shanshan Jin, Li Li et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) across twelve studies. The pooled sensitivity of mNGS was 0.75, and specificity was 0.93, indicating it outperforms conventional methods like galactomannan and culture in sensitivity. The study highlights mNGS as a promising diagnostic tool for IPA.
Key findings
- Pooled sensitivity of mNGS for IPA was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.84).
- Pooled specificity of mNGS was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84-0.97).
- mNGS showed higher sensitivity than galactomannan with a risk difference of 0.22 (95% CI: 0.16-0.29).
- mNGS demonstrated superior specificity compared to (1→3)-β-d-glucan with a risk difference of 0.12 (95% CI: 0.04-0.20).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that mNGS could enhance the diagnostic accuracy for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, potentially leading to earlier and more effective treatment strategies. This is particularly relevant in populations at high risk for IPA.