• Vendula Belackova
• > Tereza Daneckova
• > Roman Gabrhelik
• > Hana Gajdosikova
• > Katerina Grohmannova
• > Bara Janíkova
• >  Kamil Kalina
• > Lenka Miovska
• > Michal Miovsky
• > Pavlina Mullerova
• > Petr Popov
• > Josef Radimecky
• > Jarosolav Sejvl
• > Matus Sucha
• > Jaroslav Vacek
• > Vendula Belackova
• > Tomas Zabransky

The study presents a cost minimalisation analysis of examination models for persons in contact with tuberculosis in the Czech Republic. The study draws on available cost data from the Czech Republic and clinical data from international studies. It calculates the costs of the MI model, which constitutes the current examination method for people in contact with TBC, with the use of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and X-ray examination, the MII model, which uses the in vitro release of interferon-gamma from blood cells (IGRA) and X-ray examination, and the MIII model, which is a two-step model using the confirmation of positive TST results by means of the IGRA test and X-ray examination. From the standpoint of the social cost (direct and indirect), the MIII model (two-step with the use of TST and IGRA – CZK 21,186 / 10 examinations) is the least expensive. This cost is, however, almost identical to the cost necessary for the MII model (only IGRA – CZK 22,551 / 10 examinations), which is simpler from the examination technique standpoint. The most costly is the MI model (TST – CZK 27,958 / 10 examinations), which has been used in the Czech Republic since 1986 and which is, furthermore, burdened with low TST specificity. The direct cost (CZK 16,175 / 10 examinations) is the lowest for the MIII model; the MII model has the lowest indirect costs (CZK 2,194 / 10 examinations). One of the most important findings of the study was that, despite its high price, the IGRA test does not present a significant increase in costs in comparison with the MII model, compared to the current type of contact examination.

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