Cost analysis of employing multi-test allergy screening to guide serial endpoint titration (SET) testing versus SET alone

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the cost differences between 2 different modalities of allergy testing.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Material costs, labor costs, and overhead expenditures were compared for 2 different allergy-testing algorithms. Fifty patients were placed in each group. The first group was tested for 14 allergens and 2 control substances by using multi-test II. These patients were compared with 50 patients tested for similar allergens and control substances by using serial end-point titration.

RESULTS: The initial round of tests with serial endpoint titration was nearly 3 times as costly as the multi-test for the 14 allergens and 2 control substances.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Multi-testing is a cost-effective initial testing modality that can screen out negative results and enable the identification of positive reactions. These results could then be further investigated by using serial endpoint titration or RAST to quantify the patient's sensitivity and establish a starting dose for immunotherapy.