Evaluation of Time and Productivity Costs of Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) Testing

The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) skin test is a commonly utilized screening method for tuberculosis. For many health care workers, the test is required annually. There is a paucity of data on the cost effectiveness of the test.

Evaluate the estimated time loss and financial burden that are associated with PPD testing.

A survey was developed and distributed to health care workers at a hospital employee health clinic. Data on each respondent's profession as well as time spent at the PPD reading site and travel time were collected. Hospital system-wide time and productivity losses were calculated. Nationwide time and productivity losses were estimated.

Time and productivity losses related to PPD testing from 288 respondents (1.87% of all employees within the health system) amounted to 165 hours, 27 minutes and $4631.71, equating to system-wide time and productivity losses of 9004 hours, 23 minutes (63% of which was spent on travel to and from the clinic) and productivity losses of $252 074.38 (more than 11% of the hospital system's annual operating expenses), respectively, across all 15 674 employees. This represents just 0.087% of the estimated 18 million health workers nationwide, who incur estimated time and productivity losses of 10 340 621 hours and 30 minutes and $289 481 873.20, respectively.

In necessitating a follow-up visit, PPD testing incurs substantial time losses. Since 63% of these time losses occur during paid working hours, the PPD test also incurs significant productivity losses for employers. These losses call for the evaluation of a more cost-effective system of tuberculosis testing. This study was approved by Lifespan - The Miriam Hospital IRB (approval #925592-12). All participants provided written informed consent prior to participating.