Case Studies in Cost Effectiveness of Molecular Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Enteroviral Meningitis, and BK Virus Nephropathy
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Pathogen genome amplification is used to detect and identify microorganisms, assess response to therapy, and detect mutations associated with drug resistance. Nucleic acid amplification tests have been shown to be superior to conventional culture‐based testing methods in many circumstances. However, the enthusiasm for the technology in clinical laboratories may be decreased by the practical considerations of cost, complexity of the technology, and lack of US Food and Drug Administration–approved tests. The impact of nucleic acid amplification tests on the diagnosis and management of patients with tuberculosis, enteroviral meningitis, and BK virus transplant nephropathy will be examined, with an emphasis on the potential for health care cost savings.
Received 11 April 2006; accepted 31 July 2006; electronically published 31 October 2006.
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Online publication date: 15-Oct-2008.
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2008.
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Presented in part: 43rd Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, October 2005, in a symposium entitled “Diagnositics: Current Status and Future Directions.”