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document
The cost-effectiveness of parasitologic diagnosis for malaria-suspected patients in an era of combination therapy . The introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy in sub-Saharan Africa has prompted calls for increased use of parasitologic diagnosis for malaria . We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests ( RDTs ) in comparison to microscopy in guiding treatment of non-severe febrile illness at varying levels of malaria endemicity using data on test accuracy and costs collected as part of a Tanzanian trial . If prescribers complied with current guidelines , microscopy would give rise to lower average costs per patient correctly treated than RDTs in areas of both high and low transmission . RDT introduction would result in an additional 2.3 % and 9.4 % of patients correctly treated , at an incremental cost of $ 25 and $ 7 in the low and high transmission settings , respectively . Cost-effectiveness would be worse if prescribers do not comply with test results . The cost of this additional benefit may be higher than many countries can afford without external assistance or lower RDT prices .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
artemisinin-based combination therapy
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Intervention_Physical
rapid diagnostic tests ( RDTs )
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Intervention_Other
microscopy
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Outcome_Other
cost-effectiveness
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Outcome_Other
cost-effectiveness
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Outcome_Other
costs
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Outcome_Other
costs
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Outcome_Other
patients correctly treated
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Outcome_Other
incremental cost
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Outcome_Other
Cost-effectiveness