Fig. 1

Schematic illustration of the decision tree approach. As described in the main text, our analysis focuses on the direct benefit to patients being tested in different settings. *In the hospital setting, we assumed that all patients were provided with supportive care (e.g. oxygen support) regardless of test results, as such care would be provided based on symptoms and not aetiology. However, we modelled the use of the test in guiding decisions about whom to isolate and to treat with dexamethasone. Treatment did not apply to the community setting. Costs and deaths/infectious days averted were accumulated along each branch of the diagram as appropriate (for example, counting the cost of interim isolation along any branch labelled ‘Yes’ following ‘Isolate whilst awaiting result?’)