Fig. 7

Comparison of microbiological culture, metagenomic sequencing and qRT-PCR. Positive: 1). Microbiology culture: microbiology results report positive; 2). Metagenomic sequencing: reads count over 1 and 1% of all pathogen genomes; 3). qRT-PCR: CT value < 30 and significantly less than negative control; Suspected: 1). Metagenomic sequencing: only has 1 read but over 10% of all genomes; 2). qRT-PCR: CT value between 30–35 and significantly less than negative control; Negative: others. Meeting one of the following conditions indicates that pathogens exist: 1). Microbiology culture positive; 2). qRT-PCR positive; 3). qRT-PCR suspected with metagenomic sequencing positive or suspected