Table 2.

Cost of molecular testing for tuberculosis in Uganda

	Cost per test*		Cost per patient†
	Decentralised (range)‡	Centralised (range)	Decentralised (range)	Centralised (range)
Supplies	$10·84 (10·82–10·98)	$12·05 (11·67–12·53)	$10·73 (10·71–10·87)	$5·06 (4·90–5·26)
Equipment	$6·79 (5·23–11·20)	$3·80 (2·00–9·83)	$6·72 (5·18–11·09)	$1·60 (0·84–4·13)
Implementation process	$2·26 (1·56–3·80)	..	$2·24 (1·54–3·76)	..
Transport	..	$1·38 (0·27–3·71)	..	$0·58 (0·11–1·56)
Staff	$0·51 (0·19–0·83)	$0·61 (0·09–1·49)	$0·51 (0·19–0·82)	$0·26 (0·04–0·63)
Building	$0·03 (0·02–0·06)	$0·35 (0·18–0·89)	$0·03 (0·02–0·06)	$0·15 (0·08–0·38)
Overhead	$0·03 (0·02–0·05)	$0·01 (0·01–0·03)	$0·03 (0·02–0·05)	$0·01 (0·01–0·02)
Total (Xpert)	$20·46 (17·85–25·72)	$18·20 (16·58–24·25)	$20·26 (17·67–25·46)	$7·66 (5·98–11·98)
Sputum smear microscopy	..	$2·41 (2·05–2·95)	$0·02 (0·01–0·02)	$1·93 (1·64–2·36)
Total (Xpert and smear)	$20·46 (17·85–25·72)	$20·61 (18·63–27·20)	$20·28 (17·68–25·48)	$9·59 (7·62–14·34)

^*Weighted mean cost per test. Per-test costs were evaluated according to Uganda Ministry of Health guidelines. Under the guidelines, clinics with centralised Xpert (hub-and-spoke) testing are also supposed to perform sputum smear microscopy for all individuals receiving diagnostic care for tuberculosis.

^†Weighted mean cost per patient. The per-patient costs are apportioned based on the proportion of individuals receiving diagnostic tuberculosis testing who receive each type of test. For example, only 42% of all individuals who received testing at centralised (hub-and-spoke) sites received an Xpert test, versus 99% of individuals who received diagnostic testing at decentralised (onsite testing) sites.

^‡Range is based on the empirically observed minimum per maximum values at costed sites, with the exception of sample transport networks, where the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of observed values were used. All costs presented in 2019 US$.