Modeling the impact of alternative strategies for rapid molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis in Southeast Asia

Amanda Y. Sun, Madhukar Pai, Henrik Salje, Srinath Satyanarayana, Sarang Deo, David W. Dowdy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Novel diagnostic tests hold promise for improving tuberculosis (TB) control, but their epidemiologic impact remains uncertain. Using data from the World Health Organization (2011-2012), we developed a transmission model to evaluate the deployment of 3 hypothetical TB diagnostic tests in Southeast Asia under idealized scenarios of implementation. We defined diagnostics by their sensitivity for smear-negative TB and proportion of patients testing positive who initiate therapy ("point-of-care amenability"), with tests of increasing point-of-care amenability having lower sensitivity. Implemented in the public sector (35% of care-seeking attempts), each novel test reduced TB incidence by 7%-9% (95% uncertainty range: 4%-13%) and mortality by 20%-22% (95% uncertainty range: 14%-27%) after 10 years. If also deployed in the private sector (65% of attempts), these tests reduced incidence by 13%-16%, whereas a perfect test (100% sensitivity and treatment initiation) reduced incidence by 20%. Annually detecting 20% of prevalent TB cases through targeted screening (70% smear-negative sensitivity, 85% treatment initiation) also reduced incidence by 19%. Sensitivity and point-of-care amenability are equally important considerations when developing novel diagnostic tests for TB. Novel diagnostics can substantially reduce TB incidence and mortality in Southeast Asia but are unlikely to transform TB control unless they are deployed actively and in the private sector.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1740-1749
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican journal of epidemiology
Volume178
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Diagnostic techniques and procedures
  • Epidemiologic methods
  • Southeast Asia
  • Theoretical models
  • Tuberculosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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