A Swedish cost-effectiveness analysis of community-based Chlamydia trachomatis PCR testing of postal urine specimens obtained at home.
OBJECTIVE
A study was undertaken to assess the cost-effectiveness of identifying and treating asymptomatic carriers of Chlamydia trachomatis when using community-based testing of urine specimens obtained at home and mailed to a central laboratory.


METHODS
A total of 100 males and 100 females aged 20-24 living in Umeå were randomly sampled from the population registry. A societal cost-effective analysis was carried out, based on screening and medical care costs in Sweden.


RESULTS
With a participation rate of 55% (45% males and 65% females), the female screening became cost-saving as the C. trachomatis prevalence exceeded 5.1%, and the male screening became cost-saving with over 12.3% prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Postal screening for C. trachomatis in an asymptomatic young population can be cost-effective only at prevalences higher than at present.
Novak
Daniel P
DP
Family Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Lindholm
Lars
L
Jonsson
Monica
M
Karlsson
Roger B
RB
D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011177:Postal Service; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013548:Sweden; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data