| Article ID: | iaor20091200 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Volume: | 336 |
| Issue: | 7637 |
| Start Page Number: | 202 |
| End Page Number: | 205 |
| Publication Date: | Jan 2008 |
| Journal: | British Medical Journal |
| Authors: | Lubell Yoel, Reyburn Hugh, Mbakilwa Hilda, Mwangi Rose, Chonya Semkini, Whitty Christopher J.M., Mills Anne |
| Keywords: | cost benefit analysis, developing countries |
Objective – rapid diagnostic tests for malaria seem cost effective in standard analyses, but these do not take account of clinicians' response to test results. This study tested the impact of clinicians' response to rapid diagnostic test or microscopy results on the costs and benefits of testing at different levels of malaria transmission and in different age groups. Design – cost–benefit analysis using a decision tree model and clinical data on the effectiveness of diagnostic tests for malaria, their costs, and clinicians' response to test results.