Optimal pooled testing

¹Economics and Quantitative Methods, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu 96813, USA. bsaraniti@hpu.edu

|August 10, 2006

Summary

Pooled testing offers significant cost savings for universal HIV screening, potentially saving billions annually in the US and Thailand. This method

Area of Science:

Background:

Universal HIV screening is recommended for early detection and treatment.
Current screening methods may be costly, potentially impacting widespread implementation.
Optimizing testing strategies is crucial for cost-effective public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize pooled testing techniques for HIV screening.
To evaluate the cost-saving potential of pooled testing for universal HIV screening in the US and Thailand.
To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of pooled testing.

Main Methods:

Characterization of three distinct pooled testing strategies.
Application of pooled testing models to HIV prevalence data from the US and Thailand.
Analysis of cost-effectiveness based on varying prevalence rates and risk group disparities.

Main Results:

Pooled testing demonstrates significant cost reductions, particularly at lower HIV prevalence rates (up to 30%).
Annual savings exceeding $1.4 billion in the US and $130 million in Thailand are projected with optimal pooled testing.
Effectiveness is contingent on prevalence levels and disparities between high- and low-risk groups, with dilution impacting sensitivity.

Conclusions:

Pooled testing is a highly cost-effective strategy for universal HIV screening.
Current cost-effectiveness assessments for routine HIV screening may overestimate costs, strengthening the case for universal testing.
Optimized pooled testing can substantially reduce healthcare expenditures for HIV screening programs.

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