We found that the Xpert roll-out in South Africa, for a population of presumptive drug-susceptible tuberculosis participants, did not decrease or increase costs of tuberculosis investigation, diagnosis, and treatment (in the period from symptoms to 6 months after initial investigation), and, in this sense, can be described as cost-neutral. The additional cost of Xpert equipment and tests was mitigated by a reduction in costs elsewhere in the tuberculosis cascade of care.
