2nd BASHH Oxford Diagnostics Course, November 2015

Area of Science:

• Sexual health diagnostics
• Public health service design

Background:

• Increasing sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates and demand on UK sexual health services.
• Need for improved patient flow and reduced waiting times in sexual health clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss challenges and emerging concepts in diagnostics and service design for sexual health.
• To explore novel remote STI testing strategies and their patient journey, demographics, and uptake.
• To evaluate cost-benefits of diagnostic methods and address antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

• Presentation of various approaches to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times.
• Exploration of remote STI testing, including patient journey and uptake data.
• Cost-benefit analysis of nucleic acid amplification tests versus microscopy/culture for Trichomonas vaginalis detection.
• Discussion on antimicrobial resistance, genotypic markers, and point-of-care testing.

Main Results:

• Novel remote STI testing shows potential for managing patient flow and reaching new demographics.
• Nucleic acid amplification tests offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods for Trichomonas vaginalis detection, especially in high-risk groups.
• Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern, necessitating vigilance and advanced testing methods.

Conclusions:

• Innovative diagnostic and service design approaches are crucial for addressing rising STI rates and service demand.
• Remote testing and advanced diagnostics like NAATs can enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness in sexual health services.
• Combating antimicrobial resistance requires continuous monitoring and the development of point-of-care resistance tests.