Benefit-Cost Analysis of Screening

This article develops a framework for benefit-cost analysis of screening tests and applies it to compare tests for gonorrhea in asymptomatic women. Some analytic results on the dependence of net benefits on the values of various parameters are derived. A benefit-cost analysis is then performed to compare the modified Thayer-Martin culture technique and the Gonozyme immunoassay with each other and with a no screening alternative. Analysis of the sensitivity of results to changes in assumed parameter values is also carried out. The findings suggest that the Thayer-Martin technique has positive net benefits and is preferred to Gonozyme under a broad range of plausible conditions.