AI Article Synopsis
- Sexual Health London (SHL) has been providing remote STI testing for London residents over 16 since 2018, initially focusing on asymptomatic screenings and expanding to symptomatic testing in 2020.
- A four-year evaluation of SHL's online testing pathway analyzed data from over 670,000 users, revealing high return rates for tests and associations between user demographics and positive STI results.
- The evaluation found that SHL had the largest order volume for online postal STI testing in the UK, but positivity rates for chlamydia and gonorrhoea were lower than national averages, possibly due to the focus on asymptomatic screenings prior to 2020.
Article Abstract
Objectives: Since 2018, Sexual Health London (SHL) has provided remote sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services to London residents over 16 years of age. SHL was an asymptomatic screening service. In 2020, SHL widened access to non-urgent symptomatic testing. We undertook a 4-year evaluation on the uptake of SHL's online testing pathway and outcomes, including the association of positive chlamydia and gonorrhoea nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) outcomes with user demographics and user utility.
Methods: This is a retrospective data analysis of routine SHL clinical data from 8 January 2018 to 31 March 2022 of all STI test kit orders, focusing on HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea outcomes. Descriptive analysis on uptake of each stage of SHL's clinical care pathway is provided, including HIV testing outcomes. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between SHL user-completed online consultation information, SHL uptake and chlamydia and gonorrhoea NAAT results (negative or positive).
Results: During the evaluation period, there were 1 476 187 orders made by 670 293 unique users. The return rate for chlamydia and gonorrhoea NAATs was 79.5% and 67.6% for HIV blood samples. The positivity rate from sufficient samples was 4.5% for chlamydia, 1.6% for gonorrhoea and 0.3% reactivity for HIV. There were increased odds of a positive chlamydia and gonorrhoea NAAT result in non-cisgender women, those with a high number of STI orders, non-UK born and those who collected an STI test kit from a clinic-based service.
Conclusions: To date, this is the largest number of orders in an evaluation of online postal sexual health infection testing in the UK, and highest return rate of samples, suggesting acceptability of SHL for STI testing. Positivity rates for chlamydia and gonorrhoea NAAT tests are lower than national figures, which may reflect asymptomatic screening prior to 2020 and testing of non-urgent symptoms since 2020.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2024-056232 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
DoxyPEP Implementation Preferences for Bacterial STD Prevention Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Living With and Without HIV in Los Angeles: A Mixed-Methods Approach.
AIDS Patient Care STDS
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain prominent in the United States among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) is a regimen by which the antibiotic doxycycline is taken after sex to prevent bacterial STDs, such as, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Despite this, this study was conducted because there are a limited number of publications that describe GBMSM's knowledge of, and interest in, taking DoxyPEP and preferences regarding its implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA simple and colorimetric method utilizing cell-free toehold switch sensors for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Anal Chim Acta
February 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Fujian Clinical Research Center for Clinical Immunology Laboratory Test, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reginal Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350207, China. Electronic address:
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rank among the most prevalent acute infectious conditions and remain a major global public health concern. Notable STI pathogens include Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). Early detection and diagnosis are crucial for controlling the spread of STIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentifying High-Risk Populations for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Chinese Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cluster Analysis.
Open Forum Infect Dis
January 2025
Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background: This study aimed to identify subpopulations of Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) with distinct sexual behavioral patterns and explore their correlations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Methods: We recruited 892 eligible MSM in Xi'an, China, collecting sociodemographic, sexual behavior, and STI data. Cluster analysis identified distinct sexual behavioral patterns, allowing us to examine STI differences across clusters.
Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis for Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention.
J Am Board Fam Med
January 2025
From the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency, Chattanooga, TN.
Consider prescribing doxycycline as prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in certain clinical scenarios. New data suggests that a one-time dose of 200 mg doxycycline taken within 72 hours of an unprotected sexual encounter may reduce transmission of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia by a combined two thirds in a high-risk population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGerman evidence- and consensus-based guideline on the management of penile urethritis.
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges
January 2025
Department of Infection Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Urethritis is a common condition predominantly caused by sexually transmitted pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma genitalium. It is not possible to differentiate with certainty between pathogens on the basis of clinical characteristics alone. However, empirical antibiotic therapy is often initiated in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!