TABLE 2.
Testing volume by technology type
| Technique | No. (%) of labs performing testa | Median no. of tests performed (range) | No. of tests performed (% of all tests performed) | No. of positive tests (% of total no. of positive tests) | % Positive (range) | Median charge per test (US$) (range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCR | 16 (23) | 4,320 (265–42,322) | 113,624 (35.7) | 5,198 (41.9) | 4.6 (1.4–8.4) | 42 (7.9–62)b |
| DNA probe | 10 (13) | 6,205 (40–30,334) | 91,909 (28.9) | 3,203 (25.8) | 3.5 (2.4–7.5) | 35.50 (6–46)c |
| EIA | 19 (28) | 1,820 (29–25,736) | 63,841 (20.1) | 2,084 (16.8) | 3.3 (0.8–4.7) | 32.19 (15.50–64.6)d |
| Culture | 5 (8) | 773 (178–34,393) | 37,502 (11.8) | 1,541 (12.4) | 4.1 (2.3–5) | 67.55 (38.90–104)e |
| Direct fluorescent antibody | 12 (13) | 184 (15–4,661) | 9,377 (2.9) | 297 (2.4) | 3.2 (0–8.6) | 36 (21–86)f |
| Rapid test | 11 (15) | 160 (6–489) | 1,880 (0.6) | 72 (0.6) | 3.8 (0–6.9) | 37 (19–45) |
| Total | 60 (100) | 1,139 (6–53,045) | 318,133 | 12,395 | 4.0 (0–8.6) | 38.0 (7.9–104) |
a
Some laboratories performed more than one type of test.
b
No charge was defined for 42,322 tests performed in a public health laboratory.
c
No charge was defined for 7,089 tests performed in private or hospital laboratories and 6,205 tests performed in a military laboratory.
d
No charges were defined for 25,736 tests performed in a hospital lab and 22,486 tests performed in other labs.
e
No charge was defined for 773 tests performed in a lab.
f
No charge was defined for 143 tests performed in labs.