title: Rapid Syphilis Testing Is Cost-Effective Even in Low-Prevalence Settings: The CISNE-PERU Experience.
abstract: Studies have addressed cost-effectiveness of syphilis testing of pregnant women in high-prevalence settings. This study compares costs of rapid syphilis testing (RST) with laboratory-based rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests in low-prevalence settings in Peru. The RST was introduced in a tertiary-level maternity hospital and in the Ventanilla Network of primary health centers, where syphilis prevalence is approximately 1%. The costs per woman tested and treated with RST at the hospital were $2.70 and $369 respectively compared with $3.60 and $740 for RPR. For the Ventanilla Network the costs per woman tested and treated with RST were $3.19 and $295 respectively compared with $5.55 and $1454 for RPR. The cost per DALY averted using RST was $46 vs. $109 for RPR. RST showed lower costs compared to the WHO standard costs per DALY ($64). Findings suggest syphilis screening with RST is cost-effective in low-prevalence settings.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology, STD/HIV Unit, School of Public Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallma
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology, STD/HIV Unit, School of Public Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology, STD/HIV Unit, School of Public Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carcamo
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres-Rueda
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mabey
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fern
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Terris-Prestholt
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing / Q000191:economics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors