Average total cost, sometimes referred to as the per unit total cost, is the per unit cost. This includes fixed costs, those costs that are required for production but do not change based on output, and variable costs, those costs that increase (or decrease) as output increases (or decreases).
The basic stress test involves walking on a treadmill while your electrocardiogram (EKG) is continuously monitored for changes that may indicate a blocked artery to the heart. However, there are options if you are unable to walk on a treadmill or if your EKG is already abnormal at rest. The existing options include: imaging stress tests -- echocardiographic or nuclear -- and pharmacologic stress tests -- adenosine and dobutamine.
An imaging stress test costs between $500 and $2,000, compared with $200 to $300 for an ECG treadmill test. Since imaging tests can provide more information, they may be worth it. But money spent on inappropriate tests is money wasted, especially when they lead to more unÂ­necessary tests and further expense.