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Development of Multiplex Real-Time RT-qPCR Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, and MERS-CoV
Published on: November 10, 2023
Cost effects of using point-of-care multiplex PCR for high consequence infectious diseases suspect cases
S Metz1,2, R Golbach3, F Borgans4
1Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. sebastianmetz164@gmail.com.
Infection
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Point-of-care multiplex PCR testing for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) can reduce patient isolation costs. While increasing costs for confirmed HCID cases, it significantly saves money for non-infected individuals by enabling faster rule-out.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
- Health Economics
Background:
- High-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) pose a rare but significant transmission risk in Europe.
- Rapid evaluation of suspected HCID cases is crucial, often necessitating resource-intensive isolation.
- Point-of-care multiplex PCR offers a potential solution for faster rule-out, reducing unnecessary isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of multiplex PCR combined with standard diagnostics versus standard diagnostics alone for suspected HCID cases.
- To analyze costs from a hospital perspective, including isolation and diagnostic procedures.
- To evaluate two scenarios: patients infected with HCID and those not infected.
Main Methods:
- Development of a decision-analytic model comparing two diagnostic strategies.
- Strategy 1: Multiplex PCR (BioFire FilmArray Global Fever Panel) + standard diagnostics.
- Strategy 2: Standard diagnostics alone. Included deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA).
Main Results:
- Multiplex PCR strategy increased costs by approximately €406 for infected patients but decreased costs by €2,009 for non-infected patients in the base case.
- PSA confirmed higher costs for infected patients (mean Δ €409) and cost savings for non-infected patients (mean Δ €2,098).
- Key cost drivers included multiplex sensitivity and isolation expenses during diagnostics.
Conclusions:
- Multiplex PCR is cost-effective for ruling out HCID in non-infected patients by shortening isolation periods.
- While increasing costs for true HCID cases, overall cost savings are plausible due to the low prevalence of HCID in Europe.
- The economic benefit depends on specific healthcare workflows and local isolation costs.