Rapid Syphilis Testing Is Cost-Effective Even in Low-Prevalence Settings: The CISNE-PERU Experience

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.

Below:  RST and RPR cost components

Below:  Costs per woman screened and treated, by service comparing RST vs RPR at INMP and Ventanilla Network

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/mVWfxq

By:  Mallma P1, Garcia P1, Carcamo C1, Torres-Rueda S2, Peeling R2, Mabey D2, Terris-Prestholt F2.

• 1Epidemiology, STD/HIV Unit, School of Public Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
• 2London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. 
• PLoS One. 2016 Mar 7;11(3):e0149568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149568. eCollection 2016.

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