Table 1

Types of economic analysis

Cost savings

• Lowest cost strategy with equivalent outcomes

Cost benefit

• Comparison of two strategies−all inputs are converted to a monetary value

• Difference >$0 indicates an ineffective strategy

Cost effectiveness analysis (CEA)

• Cost for each quality adjusted life year saved or life year saved

Cost utility

Cost/quality adjusted life years

CEA techniques used to compare test modalities

• CEA = incremental cost of one test or test driven strategyv another divided be the incremental benefit of the same test

• Relates to the economic resources consumed by the test in relation to the benefits attained by that test

• Equation

Incremental CE =

(Equation)