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Table 2 Diagnostic accuracy parameters of pictorial blood assessment chart (PBLAC) in the diagnoses for objective heavy menstrual bleeding (MBL 80 mL)

From: Pictorial blood loss assessment chart for quantification of menstrual blood loss: a systematic review

Study

Number

PBLAC cutoff point (in mL)

Sanitary product

MBL > 80 mL (%)

Sensitivity (%)

Specificity (%)

+LR

−LR

DOR

Higham et al. [4]

122

100

Tampax Fems super plus tampons and Kotex Simplicity size 2 towels

50

86

89

7.8

0.16

50.1

Janssen et al. [3]

288

100

Kotex Maxi Long Pads (Kimberly Clark, Veenendaal, Holland), Tampax super tampons (Unicura, Zoetermeer, Holland)

31

98

64

2.7

0.04

76.7

Deeny et al. [8]

53

100

Women used their customary sanitary material

47

88

52

1.8

0.23

8.0

Barr et al. [9]

281

50

Sanitary wear not specified

12

58

88

4.8

0.48

10.1

Reid et al. [10]

103

100

Tampax super (Tambrands, Havant, UK) and Kotex Simplicity size 2 (Kimberly Clark, Aylesford, Kent, UK)

61

97

7.5

1.1

0.40

2.6

Wyatt et al. [11]

108

80a

Tampax regular, super, or super plus and Kotex Maxi super or Maxi nighttime napkins

16

86

88

7.2

0.16

45.3

Zakherah et al. [12]

197

100

Always Ultra, Proctor & Gamble, Cairo, Egypt

54

99

39

1.6

0.02

86.9

197

150

54

83

77

3.5

0.22

15.7

  1. +LR likelihood ratio for a positive test, LR− likelihood ratio for a negative test, DOR diagnostic odds ratio
  2. aIn Wyatt report, the unit of score was an estimated milliliter unlike the original PBLAC by Higham, which included absolute values