تحليل هزينه اثربخشي آزمون غربالگري مصرف تركيبات اپيوئيدي در آزمايشگاه مركزي دانشگاه علوم پزشكي كرمان طي سال 1380

Cost-effectiveness analysis of urine screening for drug of abuse in Kerman Medical University Central Laboratory in 2002

Introduction: Urine drug testing continues to be an important screening tool in our country. This study was conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of opioids use screening programmes: premarital. preemployment, police detainees, ʹHarasat" referrals and private sector employees. Methods: Consumable costs data were obtained by examining records. Personnel costs were obtained through interviews with service providers and supervisors. Overhead costs were allocated based on the portion of space used by opioid testing services. For calculation of cost-effectiveness ratio of the screening programs. the total direct cost of each program was divided by the total number of positive TLCs. Results: In total, 64698 individuals were screened by means of the above five programs. 3460 (5.3%) subjects were confirmed by Rapid Screening Assay (RSA) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Excluding capital costs, police detainees screening program was the most cost-effective. Excluding capital costs the break even point was at 2 percent. Conclusion: Altogether individualized screening programs for opioid use would be cost-effective even at a lower prevalence, and should be continued. Key words: Opioid Peptides - Urinalysis - Cost-effectiveness Analysis