title: Clinical and economic evaluation of rapid influenza a virus testing in nursing homes in calgary, Canada.
abstract: The incremental benefits and costs of a rapid influenza A virus infection diagnostic service were studied in nursing homes in Calgary, Canada, during a single influenza season. The service was used to test 159 patients with suspected infection in a group of "experimental" nursing homes and results were compared with those for a group of "control" homes. An equal number of cases of influenza were identified in each group. Twenty-eight patients (17.6%) had confirmed cases, and 63 patients (39.6%) had probable cases. A rapid viral test result was provided much faster for patients in the experimental homes (P=.005). Both groups had the same median attack rate for influenza A virus. In experimental homes, the duration of the outbreak was shorter (P=.03), and the cost of laboratory testing and the total cost (less the hospital cost) tended to be lower (P<.2). The rapid testing service also tended to lower the overall use of resources.
authors.affiliation: Calgary Laboratory Services, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. deirdre.church@cls.ab.ca
authors.forename: Deirdre L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: H Dele
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitton
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Semeniuk
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Logue
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic