Table 1 Determination of costs for economic evaluation

Preparation and dispensation

Request and receiving

0.5 min/vial

$26.86 per hour for a Medical laboratory assistant level II^a or $39.08 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level I^b

Assigning

 Clinic-based IVIg and SCIg

2 min/vial

$39.08 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level I

 Home-based SCIg

1 min/vial

$26.86 per hour for a Medical laboratory assistant level II^a or $39.08 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level I^b

Quality assurance

10 min/patient

$41.61 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level II

Dispensation

0.5 min/vial

$26.86 per hour for a Medical laboratory assistant level II^a or $39.08 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level I^b

Additional costs for patients in Edmonton receiving IgG at locations other than the central facility

 Shipping from central facility

0.5 min/vial

$26.86 per hour for a Medical laboratory assistant level II

 Receiving at blood facility

0.5 min/vial

$39.08 per hour for a Medical laboratory technologist level I

Training and support for self-administered SCIg (occurred the first year)

Training (occurred first year)

 Patients in Northern Alberta

6.75 h

$43.94 per hour for a registered nurse

 Patients in Southern Alberta

9 h

$43.94 per hour for a registered nurse

Ambulatory clinic visits

Clinic-based IVIg and SCIg

Determined from administrative data

Determined by multiplying the RIW assigned to each clinic visit for IgG administration (i.e., Z29.1) by the CIHI cost of a standard ambulatory visit in Alberta during the year within which the visit occurred