title: Cost effectiveness of an accurate and rapid assay for serum human chorionic gonadotropin in suspected ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: The cost effectiveness and clinical utility of a simple, rapid, and accurate pregnancy test in the evaluation of suspected ectopic gestation were studied. The introduction of this qualitative serum assay for human chorionic gonadotropin into our outpatient department during a 1-month period was associated with a significant decrease in culdocenteses (p less than 0.001), ultrasound examinations (p less than 0.025), and hospital admissions (p less than 0.01), with a net projected institutional reduction in health care costs of +123,000 annually.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000191:economics*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin