Figure 1
Flow chart of organizations operating mobile MSTs who were asked to describe their point of care testing resources.
Table 1
Characteristics of survey respondents versus those solicited in a database of 166 organizations sending mobile MSTs to Latin America and the Caribbean (percentages do not add to 100% in cases where organizations served more than one region).
| NGOs contacted (n = 166) n, (%) | NGOs responding (n = 48) n, (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Locations served | ||
| Central America | 92 (55.4%) | 29/48 (60.4%) |
| Caribbean | 64 (38.6%) | 16/48 (33.3%) |
| South America | 40 (24.1%) | 13/48 (27.1%) |
| Unknown | 2 (1.2%) | 1/48 (2.1%) |
| Trip Frequency | ||
| >3 trips/year | 64 (38.6%) | 20/48 (41.7%) |
| <3 trips/year | 556 (33.1%) | 21/48 (43.7%) |
| Unknown | 17 (10.2%) | 7/48 (14.6%) |
| Religious affiliation | ||
| Faith based | 102 (61.5%) | 29/48 (60.4%) |
| Secular | 57 (34.3%) | 17/48 (35.4%) |
| Unknown | 7 (4.2%) | 2/48 (4.2%) |
| Setting | ||
| Rural | 127 (76.5%) | 44/48 (91.7%) |
| Unknown | 36 (21.7%) | 3/48 (6.3%) |
Figure 2
Percentage of organizations operating mobile MSTs in Latin America and the Caribbean carrying selected point of care tests (N = 48).
Table 2
Common POC tests used on mobile MSTs in Latin America and the Caribbean, the associated disease entities they are used to diagnose, the approximate prevalence of that disease entity on MSTs [9, 10], the sensitivity and specificity of the test, and the approximate cost per test (obtained from allmedtech.com on December 10, 2016).
| Point of care test | Diagnostic use on MSTs | Prevalence of diagnosis on MSTs in LAC | Accuracy | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glucometer | Diabetes | 0.3–2.3% | Similar to gold standard laboratory testing | $1.19/test ($59.99/50 tests); Accucheck Aviva Plus glucose test strips |
| Urine dipsticks | Urinary tract infection | 1.8–2.6% | Leukocyte esterase sensitivity 14–100%, specificity 25–86%; nitrites: sensitivity 14–80%, specificity 58–100% | $0.45/test ($45/100 reagent strips); Siemens Multistix |
| Qualitative urine pregnancy | Pregnancy | 0.4–1.9% | Sensitivity 53–78% for BHCG 20–300 (approximately 4 weeks gestation) | $0.34/test ($34.99/100 tests; New Choice Pro) |
| Hemoglobinometer | Anemia | 0.5–1.3% | HemoCue 95% confidence range: 1.52–2.7g/dL below actual Hb, to 1.79–2.7g/dL above actual Hb | $1.67 ($335/200 tests); HemoCue microcuvettes for HB201 Plus analyser) |
| Chlamydia test | Vaginal discharge | 1.1–3.6% | Sensitivity 67–74%; specificity 91–96% | $11/test ($220/20 tests); Clearview chlamydia test |
| Portable ultrasound | Pregnancy, abdominal pain | 0.4–1.9%; 7.4–11% | User dependent | $8250 base price; Sonimage P3 handheld ultrasound |