Pros and cons of different approaches to BCR-ABL testing in low-resource areas
| Strategy . | Pros . | Cons . |
|---|---|---|
| Home brew assay | Optimized to specific laboratory needs, locally sensitive and reproducible | Highly technical training, expensive machines and reagents, often performs worse at new locations |
| (Semi-)automated assays | Less technical training needed, reagents self-contained, can be run without batching, quick | Machines and cartridges are expensive to buy and maintain |
| Shipping to specialized centers | Standardized testing often means better assay performance | Shipping is very expensive, samples can be compromised, reliance on others |
| Strategy . | Pros . | Cons . |
|---|---|---|
| Home brew assay | Optimized to specific laboratory needs, locally sensitive and reproducible | Highly technical training, expensive machines and reagents, often performs worse at new locations |
| (Semi-)automated assays | Less technical training needed, reagents self-contained, can be run without batching, quick | Machines and cartridges are expensive to buy and maintain |
| Shipping to specialized centers | Standardized testing often means better assay performance | Shipping is very expensive, samples can be compromised, reliance on others |