Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection is associated with anaemia in pregnancy and can be more cost-effectively detected by rapid diagnostic test than by microscopy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Table 6 Cost components and unit costs considered for monthly asymptomatic P . falciparum diagnosis, at CHK II, in Kingasani Health Zone, Kinshasa in 2013

Items	Unit cost (US$)	Microscopy strategy (US$) (n = 332)	RDT strategy (US$) (n = 332)
Exams and supplies
Thick blood smear^a	0.72	239.04	-
SD Bioline Malaria Antigen Pf® - one test	0.79	-	262.28
Salary
Laboratory technician salary	304.34 (monthly)	588.18	123.82
Equipment
Microscope- one unit – value	520.82 ( annual)	43.4 (monthly)	-
Training*
Microscopy - one annual course	-	-	-
RDT-one annual course	-	-	-
Total		870.62	386.1

^aCorresponds to the individual cost of an examination, which includes a glass slide, Giemsa and other stains (all components of stains), oil immersion, lancet, cotton, alcohol and gloves.
*Training costs were not available.

ISSN: 1475-2875