Comparison of rapid tests for detection of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Kampala, Uganda

BMC Infectious Diseases

Table 3 Cost comparison (US$) of indirect BACTEC and four rapid methods

	Indirect BACTEC	Direct BACTEC	Direct Etest	Direct Phage	Direct LiPA
Reagents and Consumables:
Sputum Processing	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.01
Fluorescent Microscopy	1.33	1.33	1.33	1.33	1.33
Test-specific	24.44	16.64	6.99	5.63	30.60
Overhead*	3.23	3.23	3.23	3.23	3.55
Total	30.01	22.21	12.56	11.20	36.49
Labor:
Sputum Processing	0.56	0.56	0.56	0.56	0.56
Fluorescent Microscopy	1.04	1.04	1.04	1.04	1.04
Test-specific	8.23	2.99	2.62	4.78	1.83
Overhead	1.82	1.82	1.82	1.82	2.00
Total	11.65	6.41	6.04	8.20	5.43
Total Cost per Specimen	41.66	28.62	18.60	19.40	41.92

* Overhead included preventive maintenance of equipment and general operating supplies, such as gloves, gowns, masks and disinfectants.

ISSN: 1471-2334