title: Analysis of the costs for the laboratory of flow cytometry screening of urine samples before culture.
abstract: Urine culture samples comprise a large proportion of the workload in clinical microbiology laboratories, and most of the urine samples show no growth or insignificant growth. A flow cytometry-based analyzer (Sysmex Corporation, Japan) has been used to screen out negative urine samples prior to culture in the Päijät-Häme district. We applied decision analytic modelling to analyze, from a laboratory perspective, the economic feasibility of the screening method as compared to culture only (conventional method) for diagnosis of urinary tract infection. Our model suggests that the least costly analytical strategy is the conventional method. The incremental cost of screening is €0.29/sample. Although laboratory costs are higher, considerable savings on workload can be achieved. Furthermore, screening has numerous benefits on the treatment process of a patient that well warrant the use of the screening method. We conclude that the incremental cost of screening the samples is worth the expense.
authors: a Department of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology , Päijät-Häme Centre for Laboratory Services, Päijät-Häme Social and Health Care Group , Lahti , Finland.
authors: Eeva-Liisa
authors: EL
authors: Paattiniemi
authors: a Department of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology , Päijät-Häme Centre for Laboratory Services, Päijät-Häme Social and Health Care Group , Lahti , Finland.
authors: Santra
authors: S
authors: Karumaa
authors: b Roche Oy , Espoo , Finland.
authors: Anna-Mari
authors: AM
authors: Viita
authors: a Department of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology , Päijät-Häme Centre for Laboratory Services, Päijät-Häme Social and Health Care Group , Lahti , Finland.
authors: Pauliina
authors: P
authors: Kärpänoja
authors: c National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) , Helsinki , Finland.
authors: Marjukka
authors: M
authors: Mäkelä
authors: c National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) , Helsinki , Finland.
authors: Jaana
authors: J
authors: Isojärvi
authors: a Department of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology , Päijät-Häme Centre for Laboratory Services, Päijät-Häme Social and Health Care Group , Lahti , Finland.
authors: Hannu
authors: H
authors: Sarkkinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Economic evaluation; laboratory efficiency; urinary tract infection