HIV self-testing: A cost-saving approach?

Posted by Share-Net NL on October 2, 2015 at 9:22 am



Assessment of the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of self-testing for HIV in low-income countries.

Cambiano V, Ford D, Mabugu T, Napierala Mavedzenge S, Miners A, Mugurungi O, Nakagawa F, Revill P, Phillips A. J Infect Dis. 2015 Aug 15;212(4):570-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv040. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that self-testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is highly acceptable among individuals and could allow cost savings, compared with provider-delivered HIV testing and counseling (PHTC), although the longer-term population-level effects are uncertain. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of introducing self-testing in 2015 over a 20-year time frame in a country such as Zimbabwe.

Methods: The HIV synthesis model was used. Two scenarios were considered. In the reference scenario, self-testing is not available, and the rate of first-time and repeat PHTC is assumed to increase from 2015 onward, in line with past trends. In the intervention scenario, self-testing is introduced at a unit cost of $3.

Results: We predict that the introduction of self-testing would lead to modest savings in healthcare costs of $75 million, while averting around 7000 disability-adjusted life-years over 20 years. Findings were robust to most variations in assumptions; however, higher cost of self-testing, lower linkage to care for people whose diagnosis is a consequence of a positive self-test result, and lower threshold for antiretroviral therapy eligibility criteria could lead to situations in which self-testing is not cost-effective.

Conclusions: This analysis suggests that introducing self-testing offers some health benefits and may well save costs.

Author: V. Cambiano
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