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ECONOMIC EVALUATIONS AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE STUDY APPROACH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2013

Sabina Sanghera ,
Rosanna Orlando  and
Tracy Roberts
Sabina Sanghera
Affiliation:
Health Economics Unit, University of Birmingham
Rosanna Orlando
Affiliation:
Health Economics Unit, University of Birmingham
Tracy Roberts
Affiliation:
Health Economics Unit, University of Birmingham
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Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to present a clear process of synthesizing test accuracy data when conducting economic evaluations of diagnostic tests for health technology assessment (HTA) assessors and health economists.

Methods: We appraised the methods advocated for using diagnostic test accuracy data in economic evaluations. We used a case study of fetal anemia in which data from a screening test are used in combination with a confirmatory test.

Results: We developed a step-by-step guide and consider two scenarios: when data on test accuracy from several studies are based on (i) the same test threshold for positivity and (ii) different test thresholds.

Conclusions: We conclude that each approach has its strengths and limitations. We show that the optimal operating point of the test should be identified to determine the true cost-effectiveness of the test. We advocate that these issues require a multidisciplinary team of health economists, decision modelers and statisticians.

Keywords

Economic evaluationDiagnostic testsSensitivity and specificityROC curve
Type
METHODS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 53 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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