Table 3. A comparison of different theoretical diagnostic scenarios.

Diagnostic method	Mean Delay	Mean Cost	Mean <1?show=[sr]?>Drop-out Rate
2 smears (Standard method)1	46.1	25.54	224.8
Same-day Diagnosis2	38.6		221.3
2 smears, treat ss-based on CXR3	38.7	21.50	218.7
2 smears, increase P(make visit)4	38.8	25.71	156.6
1-stop diagnosis5	43.4		219.8
2 smears6	43.8	24.10	219.6
3 smears7	45.2	28.00	219.6
2 smears HIV+patient cohort8	61.4	32.44	243.2
LJ culture9	66.3		183.2

Notes:

^1.Sensitivity = 0.55, 2 days delay in producing SSM test results.

^2.Sensitivity = 0.59 (same as for 3 smears), zero delay in delivering sputum, producing results and in patient collecting results.

^3.Sensitivity = 0.55, 2 days delay in producing SSM test results, P(treating ss-based on CXR) = 0.5 (up from 0.1).

^4.Sensitivity = 0.55, 2 days delay in producing SSM test results, P(make 1^st visit to clinic on given day) = 0.1 (up from 0.05).

^5.Sensitivity = 0.59 (same as for 3 smears), zero delay in delivering sputum.

^6.Sensitivity = 0.59 (same as for 3 smears due to reduced work load), 2 days delay in producing SSM test results.

^7.Sensitivity = 0.59, 3 days delay in producing SSM test results.

^8.Sensitivity = 0.36, rates of abnormal CXR kept the same, culture time for ss-patients = 8 weeks (up from 6), sensitivity ss-SSM kept the same.

^9.LJ culture used in place of initial SSM test, culture time = 42 days, sensitivity = 1.0