WEBINAR - STI Testing: New Point-of-Care Advances
On December 9, 2021, NACCHO, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) hosted a webinar on a new point-of-care technology for testing of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the impact of its use for health departments.
Historically, STI testing has required that samples be sent to a lab for testing while the patient awaits results and possible treatment. A fast diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential in preventing the spread of STIs. A point-of-care test allows for faster diagnosis and eliminates the 4–7-day turnaround. A reliable, low-cost, point-of-care test which allows clinicians and healthcare workers to diagnose and provide accurate treatment in one visit could help reduce burden on the patient and help improve health outcomes including by helping to reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance from empirical treatment. By streamlining the process of providing accurate treatment and counseling at once, providers can save time and money, reduce patient anxiety, and minimize the loss of patients to follow-up care (treatment).
In August, Visby Medical received FDA clearance and a CLIA waiver for its point-of-care PCR test for the detection of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas with a vaginal swab. Results are available within 30 minutes and can be shared within a single patient visit. This is the first point-of-care test that has received this approval.
The webinar covered:
- Rising Rates of STIs
- Traditional STI Testing Methods and Challenges
- Benefits Presented by Point-of-Care Testing
- Impact on Health Department Services and Care with Point-of-Care Testing
- Q&A
Speakers:
- Rebekah Horowitz, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
- Gary Schoolnik, Chief Medical Officer, Visby Medical and Profession of Medicine at Stanford University
- Jennifer Mahn, National Coalition for STD Directors (NCSD)
Supplementary Material:
