Preparing for a Dirty Bomb Attack The Optimum Mix of Medical Countermeasure Resources

The authors discuss how to optimally use radioactivity screening equipment in triage to reduce the need for antidotes during a radiological emergency. They used data envelopment analysis to examine different combinations of medical countermeasure use, and cost effectiveness was articulated as cost per life year saved. The authors concluded that screening capacity is important to decrease the required number of antidote doses.