The activity-based cost of drug-susceptibility test of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through Kit SIRE Nitratase® plastlabor.

Abstract

Background: Drug‐resistant tuberculosis (TB) is an ongoing health threat, and the greatest challenge to adequate control of TB in many countries lies in the lack of proper laboratory drug‐susceptibility test. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity‐based costs (ABC) of Kit SIRE Nitratase® (Kit SIRE) and compare its values with the conventional drug‐susceptibility test. Methods: The ABC was calculated for three different approaches: Kit SIRE (clinical samples and cultures), proportion methods in Lowenstein Jensen (PM‐LJ), and the BactecTM MGITTM 960 system based on Mycobacterial Research Laboratory’s routine. Results: The ABC of Kit SIRE from cultures was US$ 148.54, while from clinical samples was US$ 136.12. In the case of conventional tests, the ABC of BactecTM MGITTM 960 was US$ 227.63 and of the PM‐LJ was US$ 132.64. The Kit SIRE has a lower ABC when clinical samples are used instead of cultures. Compared to conventional tests, the ABC is similar to the PM‐LJ and lower the BactecTM MGITTM 960. Conclusion: The Kit SIRE should be used as a screening method in clinical specimens and in culture for laboratories that do not have BactecTM MGITTM 960. Therefore, it can be incorporated into the routine of laboratories in countries with low resources and a high burden of TB and drug‐resistant TB.