title: Economic Considerations for Moving beyond the Kato-Katz Technique for Diagnosing Intestinal Parasites As We Move Towards Elimination.
abstract: While the need for more sensitive diagnostics for intestinal helminths is well known, the cost of developing and implementing new tests is considered relatively high compared to the Kato-Katz technique. Here, we review the reported costs of performing the Kato-Katz technique. We also outline several economic arguments we believe highlight the need for further investment in alternative diagnostics, and considerations that should be made when comparing their costs. In our opinion, we highlight that, without new diagnostic methods, it will be difficult for policy makers to make the most cost-effective decisions and that the potentially higher unit costs of new methods can be outweighed by the long-term programmatic benefits they have (such as the ability to detect the interruption of transmission).
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London,Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK; Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: hturner@oucru.org.
authors.forename: Hugo C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London,Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Alison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bettis
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London,Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (St Mary's Campus), Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Whitton
authors.affiliation: Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: T Déirdre
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.affiliation: Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine (St Mary's Campus), Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Marys Campus, Imperial College London,Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000191:economics*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics