Table 4 Health care system costs for use of whole-blood interferon-γ assay (QuantiFERON-TB®) for testing for M. tuberculosis infection. Total costs incurred for batch of 20 patients tested (2004$). Equipment usage based on time used during assay, with 10-year estimated lifespan for all laboratory equipment. Laboratory staff costs based on hourly salary plus benefits cost for mid-grade staff.
From: Feasibility, acceptability, and cost of tuberculosis testing by whole-blood interferon-gamma assay
Task Group | Resources Used | Units Used per Batch of 20 Patients | Cost Per Patient Tested ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
Phlebotomy | Nursing staff time | 1.34 hours (4 minutes per patient) | 3.06 |
| Â | Supplies | 20 tubes and needles | 2.20 |
Shipping | Courier service | 1 daily courier trip ($10) | 0.50 |
Laboratory | Commercial kits | 0.5 commercial kits | 16.50 |
| Â | Consumables | Laboratory supplies | 2.39 |
| Â | Equipment usage | Orbital rocker, ELISA washer and reader, incubator, hood, computer | 0.11 |
| Â | Clerical staff | 0.66 hours | 0.77 |
| Â | Clinical lab scientist | 4.16 hours | 8.14 |
Total | Â | Â | $33.67 |