Table 2.

Calculation of the expenses for diagnosis and treatment of one β Thalassemia patient for life expectancy of 50 years.

Test	Cost ($US) *
Diagnosis workup	500
Annual treatment during the first 2 years (blood transfusions)	10,080
Annual routine examinations/year + social worker	1.410
Total cost from diagnosis to age 2 years	22,980
Annual treatment from age 3 to age 50 years (Blood transfusions, iron chelator treatment, etc)	39,082
Annual routine examinations/year + social worker	1,410
Two T2* MRI studies (**)	4,284
Total cost from age 3 to age 50 years	1,947,900
Splenectomy (Procedure cost: $4116, not included in total treatment cost, see text)	4,116
Total cost for life expectancy of 50 years	1,971,380
Mean annual cost	39,427

^(*)Based on rates calculated and charged by Clalit Health Services.

^(**)Including two T2^*MRI heart and liver tests during a lifetime.