Estimates of Testing for Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Cost, United States, 2013

Tracking trends in the testing of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) can help measure tuberculosis elimination efforts in the United States. The objectives of this study were to estimate (1) the annual number of persons tested for LTBI and the number of LTBI tests conducted, by type of test and by public, private, and military sectors, and (2) the cost of LTBI testing in the United States.

We searched the biomedical literature for published data on private-sector and military LTBI testing in 2013, and we used back-calculation to estimate public-sector LTBI testing. To estimate costs, we applied Medicare-allowable reimbursements in 2013 by test type.

We estimated an average (low-high) 13.3 million (11.3-15.4 million) persons tested for LTBI and 15.3 million (12.9-17.7 million) LTBI tests, of which 13.2 million (11.1-15.3 million) were tuberculin skin tests and 2.1 million (1.8-2.4 million) were interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs). Eighty percent of persons tested were in the public sector, 18% were in the private sector, and 2% were in the military. Costs of LTBI tests and of chest radiography totaled $314 million (range, $256 million to $403 million).

To achieve tuberculosis elimination, millions more persons will need to be tested in all sectors. By targeting testing to only those at high risk of tuberculosis and by using more specific IGRA tests, the incidence of tuberculosis in the United States can be reduced and resources can be more efficiently used.