ObjectiveTo systematically review the diagnostic value of PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method for detecting rpoB gene mutation of rifampin-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis. MethodsSuch databases as PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2014), CBM, VIP and WanFang Data were electronically and comprehensively searched for relevant studies on the diagnostic value of PCR-SSCP method for detecting rpoB gene mutation of rifampin-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis from inception to January 1st, 2014. Literature screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and methodological quality assessment were completed by two reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was then conducted using Meta-Disc 1.4 and Stata 12.0. ResultsA total of 10 studies were included involving 1 299 cases. The results of meta-analysis showed SEN=0.92 (95%CI 0.90 to 0.94, P=0.019 3), SPE=0.97 (95%CI 0.95 to 0.98, P < 0.000 1), +LR=23.68 (95%CI 8.71 to 64.37, P < 0.000 1), -LR=0.10 (95%CI 0.06 to 0.15, P=0.023 1), DOR=257.16 (95%CI 96.82 to 683.02, P=0.020 0), and SROC area under the curve (AUC) was 0.971 5, and Q* was 0.922 3. The results of sensitivity analysis (after removing studies with sample size less than 100, Chinese studies and QUADAS more than 10 studies) showed that, the results were stable with reliable conclusion. ConclusionPCR-SSCP method has a fairly high value in the diagnosis of rpoB gene mutation of rifampinresistant mycobacterium tuberculosis.