Figure 1Requested number of laboratory tests for tuberculosis and mycobacterial diseases for 2007–2012. The total number of tests increased gradually in this period. Smear microscopy and culture examinations have the greatest number of tests. DST = drug susceptibility testing; LTBI = latent tuberculosis infection; NAAT = nucleic acid amplification test; NTM ID = nontuberculous mycobacteria identification.
Figure 2The cost of laboratory tests for tuberculosis and mycobacterial diseases during 2007–2012. The total cost for laboratory tests rapidly increased during this period. This increase is primarily because of increased utilization of NAAT and culture examination. Smear is the most frequently requested test, but the proportion of smear microscopy is relatively low in cost. DST = drug susceptibility testing; LTBI = latent tuberculosis infection; NAAT = nucleic acid amplification test; NTM ID = nontuberculous mycobacteria identification.
Table 1Insurance codes and tested number of laboratory tests for TB and mycobacterial disease (2007–2012).
Codes |
Name of test |
Year
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
B4105 |
Direct AFB smear (fuschin staining) |
269,314 |
255,528 |
236,662 |
200,053 |
196,853 |
187,319 |
B4021 |
Direct AFB smear (fluorochrome staining) |
164,399 |
211,119 |
225,209 |
233,912 |
224,115 |
204,167 |
B4120 |
Concentrated AFB smear (fuschin staining) |
417,516 |
377,849 |
324,239 |
295,900 |
292,509 |
263,596 |
BX304 |
Concentrated AFB smear (fluorochrome staining) |
240,335 |
292,028 |
375,930 |
456,174 |
525,890 |
631,729 |
B4054 |
Culture with solid media |
641,642 |
684,430 |
673,820 |
747,309 |
785,001 |
844,677 |
B4055 |
Culture with liquid media |
0 |
15,736 |
231,529 |
354,104 |
464,564 |
558,094 |
B4063 |
Drug susceptibility testing (<10 drugs) |
1,773 |
1,548 |
1,260 |
1,214 |
1,395 |
1,427 |
B4064 |
Drug susceptibility testing (≥10 drugs) |
24,557 |
25,916 |
28,029 |
30,240 |
32,894 |
38,560 |
C5953 |
TB PCR |
19,549 |
23,606 |
19,344 |
17,567 |
15,859 |
20,871 |
CY051 |
TB nested PCR |
36,347 |
33,567 |
28,918 |
29,485 |
23,636 |
34,555 |
C6021 |
TB real-time PCR |
84,141 |
116,726 |
146,866 |
185,575 |
227,122 |
239,335 |
CY636 |
NTM identification |
4,393 |
6,645 |
9,508 |
8,487 |
9,116 |
6,190 |
CY751 |
Rapid DST for RIF |
1,565 |
2,294 |
3,089 |
3,763 |
5,111 |
6,673 |
CY752 |
Rapid DST for INH |
1,088 |
1,788 |
2,681 |
3,471 |
4,950 |
6,465 |
CZ393 |
Interferon-gamma release assay |
0 |
0 |
5,468 |
5,335 |
4,846 |
6,803 |
E7113 |
Tuberculin skin test |
34,467 |
32,395 |
33,132 |
32,260 |
34,479 |
33,030 |
Total |
1,941,086 |
2,081,175 |
2,345,684 |
2,604,849 |
2,848,340 |
3,083,491 |