RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 P5.083 What Qualities Do Providers Identify as Best For Point of Care STI Tests and Do Opinions Differ by Practise, Region and Country?
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A360
OP A361
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.1127
VO 89
IS Suppl 1
A1 A M Rompalo
A1 Y Hsieh
A1 R Guy
A1 L Natoli
A1 C Fairley
A1 S Gupta
A1 K Radcliffe
A1 M T Hogan
A1 M J Goheen
A1 C Gaydos
YR 2013
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/89/Suppl_1/A360.3.abstract
AB Background U.S. clinicians identified high sensitivity and low cost as the most desirable characteristics for a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Point Of Care Test (POCT); indicated performance time as major barrier; and chose Chlamydia trachomatis as the first choice for POCT development. We determined if POCT priorities, preferred qualities and barriers were similar for practitioners globally. Methods An online survey was designed based on a large-scale in depth focus discussion study among STI experts and professionals and distributed via email to current IUSTI members. Conditional logistical regression modelling will be used for data analysis. We present preliminary data here. Results To date, 142 subjects took the online survey with 123 completing it: 44% (n = 63) male and 56% (n = 79) female. Most subjects were from Oceana (35%) followed by Europe (18%), America (18%), Africa (15%) and Asia (14%). The majority (59%) of participants were from developed countries. Unreliability (17%) was the greatest barrier for use of POCTs, followed by being laboratory-driven (15%) and time- frame (13%). Perceptions of STI POCT differed significantly between developing and developed country participants. The majority (85%) of participants from developing countries thought test cost was more important versus 67% from developed countries (p < 0.05). Participants from developing countries ranked early HIV seroconversion as top priority for new STI POCT while those from developed countries chose chlamydia. Only 24% from developing countries preferred to prioritise the development of chlamydia POCT as compared to 57% from developed countries.(p value?) In addition, the majority (53%) of participants from developed countries preferred a POCT with higher sensitivity but longer turn-around-time and much more expensive but only 28% from developing countries preferred this POCT (p < 0.05). Conclusion One STI POCT may not fit all. Industry should consider country identified needs in development of future acceptable, usable STI POCT.