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The validity of serologic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi and the effectiveness of transfusional screening strategies in a hyperendemic region |
Pirard M, Iihoshi N, Boelaert M, Basanta P, Lopez F, Van der Stuyft P |
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Record Status This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. Health technology Several serologic tests for the screening of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection in blood donors were examined. More specifically, an indirect haemagglutination test (IHA), an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and four enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The ELISAs were crude ELISA 1, crude ELISA 2, recombinant ELISA 1 and recombinant ELISA 2. Some combination tests (i.e. IHA plus ELISA, IHA plus IFA, ELISA plus IFA) were also considered.
Economic study type Cost-effectiveness analysis.
Study population The study population included samples of blood donors.
Setting The setting was a blood bank. The economic study was carried out in Bolivia.
Dates to which data relate The effectiveness and resource use data were gathered from August 1998 to January 1999. The price year was not reported.
Source of effectiveness data The effectiveness evidence was derived from a single study.
Link between effectiveness and cost data The costing was not performed on the same samples as those used in the effectiveness analysis.
Study sample Power calculations, if performed, were not reported. A sample of 400 blood samples was randomly selected from a consecutive series of 1,200 banked serum samples of blood donors. The mean age of the donors (134 women and 266 men) was 31.1 (+/- 9.2) years.
Study design This was a within-group comparison study (diagnostic study) that was performed at the regional blood bank (RBB) of Santa Cruz in Bolivia. Serum samples, which had been evaluated routinely using IHA and then stored, were unfrozen, divided into several aliquots, and blindly retested with the panel of serologic tests under evaluation. Four samples were excluded since there was insufficient serum to process the complete series of serologic tests.
Analysis of effectiveness The analysis of the clinical study was restricted to the 396 samples with enough serum. The primary outcome measures used were the sensitivity and specificity of each screening test. These were estimated using latent class analysis (LCA), a modelling technique based on the assumption that a non-observed (latent) variable is determining the association between observed categorical variables. The effectiveness of isolated or parallel use of different assays was then calculated, using a statistical approach to derive the number of undetected infected blood units and the number of units falsely labelled positive per 1,000 screened donations for various T. cruzi infection rates (40, 20 and 5%).
Effectiveness results A total of 173 of the 400 donations were positive for the presence of T. cruzi when screened in the RBB with IHA. This corresponded to a T. cruzi prevalence rate in donors of 43.3% (95% confidence interval, CI: 38.4 - 48.1). The infection rate varied significantly with gender, residence and age. In particular, the prevalence rate was significantly higher in women, rural residents and individuals aged more than 30 years.
The analysis showed that 207 samples (52.3%, 95% CI: 47.4 - 57.2) were positive for at least one test.
The observed sensitivity and specificity values for the sample of 396 blood donors were as follows:
for IHA - routine testing at donation, 0.965 (95% CI: 0.935 - 0.995) and 0.870 (95% CI: 0.828 - 0.912);
for IHA - retested by reference laboratory, 0.975 (95% CI: 0.948 - 1.000) and 0.939 (95% CI: 0.910 - 0.969);
for IFA, 1 and 0.963 (95% CI: 0.940 - 0.987);
for crude ELISA 1, 1 and 0.970 (95% CI: 0.948 - 0.992);
for crude ELISA 2, 0.986 (95% CI: 0.967 - 1.000) and 0.966 (95% CI: 0.943 - 0.989);
for recombinant ELISA 1, 0.989 (95% CI: 0.969 - 1.000) and 0.989 (95% CI: 0.976 - 1.000);
for recombinant ELISA 2, 0.993 (95% CI: 0.980 - 1.000) and 0.953 (95% CI: 0.926 - 0.979).
When the statistic calculation was performed, the sensitivity, specificity, and numbers of false-negative units and false-positive units at prevalence rates of 40% (20%; 5%) were as follows:
for IHA alone, sensitivity 0.970, specificity 0.910, false-negative 12 (6; 1.5) and false-positive 54 (72; 85.5);
for ELISA alone, sensitivity 0.990, specificity 0.960, false-negative 4 (2; 0.5) and false-positive 24 (32; 38);
for IFA alone, sensitivity 0.990, specificity 0.960, false-negative 4 (2; 0.5) and false-positive 24 (32; 38);
for IHA plus ELISA, sensitivity 0.9997, specificity 0.874, false-negative 0.12 (0.06; 0.015) and false-positive 75.8 (101.1; 120.1);
for IHA plus IFA, sensitivity 0.9997, specificity 0.874, false-negative 0.12 (0.06; 0.015) and false-positive 75.8 (101.1; 120.1);
for ELISA plus IFA, sensitivity 0.9999, specificity 0.922, false-negative 0.04 (0.02; 0.005) and false-positive 47.0 (62.7; 74.5).
Clinical conclusions The effectiveness analysis showed that the combinations of two tests were more effective than a single test in terms of sensitivity (less false-negative units), but it led to more false-positive units (lower specificity).
Measure of benefits used in the economic analysis The summary benefit measure was the number of infected units detected. This was derived directly from the effectiveness analysis.
Direct costs The perspective adopted in the study was unclear. The analysis of the costs included only the costs of the reagents used for each serologic test. The unit costs were presented separately from the quantities of resources used. The authors presumably set the costs using the RBB costs as reference prices. Resource use referred to a hypothetical sample of 1,000 donations. Discounting was not relevant since the costs were incurred during a short timeframe. The price year was not reported.
Statistical analysis of costs The costs were treated deterministically.
Indirect Costs The indirect costs were not considered in the cost analysis.
Sensitivity analysis No sensitivity analyses were performed.
Estimated benefits used in the economic analysis See the 'Effectiveness Results' section.
Cost results The total cost per 1,000 units screened was $200 with IHA alone, $1,000 with ELISA alone or IFA alone, $1,200 with IHA plus ELISA or with IHA plus IFA, and $2,000 with ELISA plus IFA.
Synthesis of costs and benefits Average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ACER and ICER, respectively), namely the cost per infected unit detected, were calculated to combine the costs and benefits of the alternative screening strategies.
The ACERs at prevalence rates of 40% (20%; 5%) were:
for IHA alone, $0.5 ($1.0; $4.1);
for ELISA alone or IFA alone, $2.5 ($5.1; $20.2);
for IHA plus ELISA or IHA plus IFA, $3.0 ($6.0; $24.0);
for ELISA plus IFA, $5.0 ($10.0; $40.0).
The ICERs in comparison with a strategy of a single hypothetical IHA (reference strategy) at prevalence rates of 40% (20%; 5%) were:
for ELISA alone or IFA alone, $100 ($200; $800);
for IHA plus ELISA or IHA plus IFA, $84 ($168; $673);
for ELISA plus IFA, $151 ($301; $1,204).
Authors' conclusions Routine blood donor screening for Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) with a single test resulted in unacceptable numbers of false-negative samples in highly endemic areas, or in at-risk population groups, such as Bolivia. Screening using a combination of an indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was a cost-effective serologic test for the screening of T. cruzi infection in blood donors.
CRD COMMENTARY - Selection of comparators The selection of the comparators was valid since several screening tests, used either individually or in parallel, were considered. You should decide whether they are valid comparators in your own setting.
Validity of estimate of measure of effectiveness The clinical data came from a within-group comparison study. This was appropriate for the study question since the same specimens were used for all serologic tests. Thus, there was no need for an external control group. The specimens included in the study were obtained from a random sample of consecutive specimens, thus they are likely to have been representative of the samples included in the blood bank. The sequence of tests was not reported, but the evaluation of the clinical outcome was blinded, which represents a further strength of the analysis. Details of the statistical approach used to derive the clinical outcomes were extensive. Only 4 specimens were excluded because of there being limited serum available.
Validity of estimate of measure of benefit The summary benefit measure was specific to the disease considered in the study. It would not be comparable with the benefits of other health care interventions, although it appears to have been appropriate for the objective of the study.
Validity of estimate of costs The perspective of the study was not explicitly stated, but the economic analysis was restricted to reagent costs. The economic impact of serologic tests on other health care services, such as management of infected blood samples, was not investigated. The authors stated that the analysis should have taken the full cost elements (e.g. investment, equipment, personnel, chemoprophylaxis) associated with serologic screening into consideration. The source of the data was not reported, but the unit cost of each reagent was provided. The cost calculation was carried out hypothetically in a sample of 1,000 specimens and no statistical analyses were performed. Further, the potential use of alternative costs was not considered. The price year was not reported, which may limit the possibility of replicating the analysis in other time periods.
Other issues The authors stated that their findings were quite consistent with those from other studies, although comparisons were difficult on account of the lack of a reference 'gold' standard. The issue of the generalisability of the study results to other settings was not addressed, and all estimates were specific to the study setting. Sensitivity analyses were not performed, which further limits the external validity of the study. The authors discussed the social and economic costs associated with a low specificity value.
Implications of the study The study results support blood screening with two tests in settings with a high to moderate prevalence of T. cruzi infection in donors. The authors concluded that the best strategy would ultimately depend on local feasibility.
Source of funding The research was conducted as part of the project "Strengthening of the Scientific Activities of CENETROP", which was financed by the Belgian Agency for Development Co-operation.
Bibliographic details Pirard M, Iihoshi N, Boelaert M, Basanta P, Lopez F, Van der Stuyft P. The validity of serologic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi and the effectiveness of transfusional screening strategies in a hyperendemic region. Transfusion 2005; 45(4): 554-561 Other publications of related interest Schmunis GA, Zicker F, Segura EL, et al. Transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases in Argentina, 1995 through 1997. Transfusion 2000;40:1048-53.
Schmunis GA, Zicker F, Pinheiro F, et al. Risk for transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases in Central and South America. Emerg Infect Dis 1998;4:5-11.
Saez AA, Otani MM, Sabino EC, et al. Evaluation of the performance of Brazilian blood banks in testing for Chagas' disease. Vox Sang 1998;74:228-31.
Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by NLM MeSH Animals; Blood Banks /methods /standards; Blood Donors /statistics & Bolivia /epidemiology; Chagas Disease /blood /diagnosis /epidemiology; Endemic Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Mass Screening /methods /standards; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trypanosoma cruzi /isolation & numerical data; purification AccessionNumber 22005008441 Date bibliographic record published 31/03/2006 Date abstract record published 31/03/2006 |
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