Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections in low-resource settings

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Laboratory Science

Background:

• Global sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence and prevalence are rising, particularly in low-to middle-income countries.
• Syndromic management is common in resource-limited settings due to diagnostic challenges.
• Point-of-care (POC) tests offer potential improvements for STI diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore STI POC test applications and their impact on control strategies.
• To define the evolving role of clinical and reference laboratories in supporting STI POC testing.
• To enhance STI management and control through improved diagnostic approaches.

Main Methods:

• Narrative literature review.
• Expert opinion synthesis.

Main Results:

• STI POC tests necessitate a shift in laboratory functions towards training and supervision of peripheral clinical staff.
• Laboratories must develop robust quality assurance systems for POC testing.
• Implementation research is crucial for scaling up STI POC tests across diverse settings.

Conclusions:

• Laboratories are pivotal in implementing and supporting STI POC testing.
• Training, technical assistance, and quality control are key laboratory roles.
• Sustainable quality systems are essential for reliable POC STI diagnostics.