Real-world Use of Molecular Point-of-care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the Emergency Department: Why It Matters for Acute Care Management.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Point-of-care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a potential paradigm shift for emergency department (ED) management of patients with suspected STIs, given there are now Food and Drug Administration-cleared POC tests that permit definite rapid diagnosis and result-driven care.

Methods

A quasi-experimental real-world implementation study was conducted in an urban ED, comparing two approaches for female STI testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV): (1) central laboratory testing (August-November 2022) with batched nucleic acid amplification testing (CT/NG) and wet prep for TV; (2) POC PCR Testing Integration (ED POC) (January-A

SUBMITTER: Dashler G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12757586 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature