Table 1.
Calculation of the expenses required for running a prevention program for β Thalassemia per year, based on data from 2011.
| Test | No. of tests/year | Cost/test ($US)* | Cost/year ($US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier screening | |||
| Blood count | 5000 | 9.95 | 49,750 |
| HPLC | 5000 | 42.15 | 210,750 |
| Husband testing | |||
| Blood count | 93.5 | 9.95 | 930 |
| HPLC | 93.5 | 42.15 | 3,941 |
| Prenatal diagnosis | |||
| Genetic counseling | 26 couples | 762 | 19,812 |
| Gynecological ultrasound | 26 | 438 | 11,388 |
| Chorionic villus sampling | 24 | 639 | 15,336 |
| Amniocentesis | 2 | 2651 | 5,302 |
| DNA analysis | 26 | 1914 | 49,764 |
| Therapeutic abortion | 4.5 | 4044 | 18,198 |
| Coordinator | 28,624 | ||
| Total annual cost | 413,795 | ||
| Cost per-prevented case | 6.5 cases/year | 63,660 | |
HPLC: High Performance Liquid Chromatography.
*
Based on the rates calculated and charged by Clalit Health Services.