Table 1

Accuracy of BLUE protocol

Mechanism of dyspnoeaBLUE protocol profileSensitivitySpecificityPositive predictive valueNegative predictive value
Acute haemodynamic pulmonary oedemaB-profile97%95%87%99%
Exacerbated COPD or severe acute asthmaNude profile (A-profile with no DVT and no PLAPS)89%97%93%95%
Pulmonary embolismA-profile with DVT81%99%94%98%
PneumothoraxA′-profile (with lung point)88%100%100%99%
PneumoniaAll profiles#89%94%88%95%
 B′-profile11%100%100%70%
 A/B-profile14.5%100%100%71.5%
 C-profile21.5%99%90%73%
 A-V-PLAPS profile42%96%83%78%

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DVT: deep venous thrombosis. #: sensitivity calculated by adding the sensitivity of each of the four profiles. Reproduced and modified from [7] with permission from the publisher.