Background CDC recommends rescreening women who are infected with chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhoea (GC) in 3 months. The iwantthekit (IWTK) Internet screening program offered an opportunity to study women who seek rescreening, and determine reported infected status at the previous screening. Mailed IWTK home-collected vaginal swabs are tested for CT, GC, and trichomonas (TV) by NAATs.

Methods Characteristics (demographics, risk behaviours, use perceptions) of repeat users were determined from questionnaires. Predictors of repeat users were measured in a matched case-control study by conditional logistic regression analysis. A case (N=304) was defined as reporting having ever used IWTK before. A control was a user who reported never using the program earlier. Two controls (N=608) were systematically sampled for each case by matching date of use of IWTK of the case within 3 months.

Results From 2007 to 2010, 17% of 1747 women who used IWTK for STI testing indicated they had used IWTK previously. Of these, 45% used it >2 times. Mean age was 24.7±5.7 yr; most were African American (69%); single (87%); 57% had 2–4 sexual partners previous yr; 44% had new partners in last 3 months; 32% were currently having sex >1 person; 16% practiced anal sex in the last 3 months; 13% never used condoms; 77% had been treated for an STI; (5 HIV+). In multivariate analysis, repeat IWTK users were more likely to be ≥20 yr. (OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.38) and reside in Maryland (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.31 to 3.13). They were more likely to have had a pelvic exam in past yr (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.05); be treated for an STI (OR=2.32, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.44); to perceive internet screening as confidential (OR=1.98, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.97); report results from self-administrated swabs as accurate (OR=2.49, 95% CI 1.61 to 3.87); be less likely to drink alcohol before sex (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.91); and to never use condoms with vaginal sex (OR=0.43, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.69). Of repeat users, 84.2% reported having a negative prior test and 48/304 (15.8%) reported last test positive; 27 had CT; 24 had TV; 3 had GC; 6 were mixed infections. At present test, 40 (13.2%) were positive: 14 had CT, 2 had GC, 28 had TV; 4 were mixed infections. Previous TV was associated with current TV positivity (p<0.05).

Conclusions IWTK attracted many previous participants who practiced high-risk sexual behaviours to use IWTK for repeat STI testing. IWTK may offer an alternate approach for rescreening previously infected women.