STI Panel Test
Preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections
Providing diagnostic and drug sensitivity testing in less than 20 minutes will enable patients to immediately receive the treatment they need.
The Problem
Current screening initiatives for these often symptomless infections are hindered by long turnaround times, with many patients never returning for treatment.
Testing for the two most common sexually transmitted infections chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) and neisseria gonorrhea (gonorrhea) currently relies upon culture, which takes at least 48 hours. Unfortunately the stigma associated with these diseases prevent many from returning to clinics for treatment.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be caused by infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. It can also be transmitted through nonsexual modes such as from mother-to-infant during pregnancy, childbirth, blood transfusions, and through shared needles. In addition, people can pass STDs to their sexual partners without any symptoms to themselves. This can result in a lack of care seeking and appropriate treatment.
Current STI testing in an outpatient setting (often in genito-urinary clinics) relies on lab culture to identify infections and any drug resistance. This takes at least 48 hours. In the meantime, the patient is prescribed a first line antibiotic treatment.
However, increasingly the pathogens are resistant to these treatments. Therefore in a growing proportion of cases, the primary treatment will be ineffective and the patient will be recalled to receive a follow up consultation. This is where the treatment of STIs is significantly complicated by social stigma, economic, and behavioural factors.
Untreated or inappropriately treated STDs can lead to a range of secondary complications including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, complications in pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy or transmission of infection to a foetus), reproductive system cancers, enhanced transmission of HIV and epididymitis; each with a cost to the healthcare system. The emergence of drug resistant strains of STI such as gonorrhea is also causing considerable global concern.
The Solution
Enabling gold-standard molecular diagnostic testing and treatment in a single patient consultation.
This important panel test will harness the power of molecular diagnostics to support crucial screening programmes for the most common sexually transmitted infections.
QuantuMDx is developing an STI panel test to provide accurate and reliable testing at the patient’s side. By providing results in minutes, this test will enable immediate prescription of the most effective drug treatment. As well as treating the individual and preventing secondary complications, this rapid testing will help to prevent further spread of the infections within the community.
We are working within the UK-based eSTI2 (electronic sexually transmitted infections) consortium to access expertise in the field, ensuring our assay meets the needs of clinicians and fits seamlessly within their care pathways.
We are working as part of the eSTI2 consortium.
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QuantuMDx is dedicated to improving and democratising global health by providing transformative diagnostic tools to overburdened healthcare systems.
