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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 22(3)

Attitudes towards and use of point-of-care tests for STIs: results from a survey of STI conference attendees in 2023

Yu-Hsiang Hsieh A # , Yukari C. Manabe B # , Charlotte A. Gaydos https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1021-3195 B , Matthew M. Hamill https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1277-819X B , Haneefa Saleem C , Golsa M. Yazdy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5607-7651 D , Anne M. Rompalo B $ and Susan Tuddenham B $ *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

B Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, MD, USA.

C Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

D Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Baltimore, MD, USA.

* Correspondence to: studden1@jhmi.edu

# Co-first authors: These authors contributed equally to this paper

$ Co-last authors: These authors contributed equally to this paper

Handling Editor: Darren Russell

Sexual Health 22, SH25003 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH25003
Submitted: 3 January 2025  Accepted: 13 May 2025  Published: 3 June 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Background

Point-of-care tests (POCTs) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have become increasingly available since the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited data on the use of these tests in clinical practice as well as the potential challenges to integrating them into care.

Methods

We conducted a survey of participants at an international STI conference in July 2023 to better understand the use of STI POCTs.

Results

A total of 83% of respondents reported using traditional POCTs (such as Gram stain and wet prep) in their practices, and 52% used newer POCTs (most commonly: rapid tests for Treponema pallidum (26%) and molecular tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae/Chlamydia trachomatis (26%)). Newer POCTs were commonly used for symptomatic (77%) and asymptomatic patients (46%), in addition to asymptomatic contacts of people with STIs (51%) and those with increased vulnerabilities (47%). Disclosure of results from newer POCTs occurred during the clinic visit for the majority of respondents (71%). When asked about the most important obstacles to using newer POCTs, cost of the test to the clinical practice or healthcare system was the most cited issue (43%), whereas concerns regarding changing or establishing new clinic workflows was the second most cited issue (23%). Most participants were ‘definitely’ (58%) or ‘maybe’ (29%) in favor of patient self-tests; however, top concerns included lack of follow-up to ensure counseling/appropriate treatment for the patient and their partner.

Conclusions

To meaningfully adopt newer STI POCTs, further research is needed to understand practice patterns and barriers to implementation.

Keywords: chlamydia, gonorrhea, point-of-care testing, self-testing, sexually transmitted infection, syphilis.

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