Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Point-of-care testing (POCT) for sexually transmitted infections offers rapid, decentralised diagnostics that inform clinical decisions within a single visit. Traditionally, laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification tests have delivered high sensitivity and specificity but require centralised facilities, complex instrumentation and extended turnaround times. Advances in POCT now encompass immunochromatographic strips, isothermal amplification platforms and cartridge-based molecular systems, which detect key pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis and Treponema pallidum. By circumventing protracted specimen transport and batch processing, POCT reduces loss to follow-up, accelerates treatment initiation and curbs onward transmission. In resource-limited settings, low-cost lateral flow and loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays expand access, while in high-income countries, fully integrated molecular platforms deliver results in under an hour. The global significance of POCT is underscored by its capacity to integrate with digital health infrastructures, enabling real-time surveillance and quality management. Remaining challenges include ensuring analytical robustness, integrating results into patient management systems, managing costs and meeting regulatory requirements. Future developments will focus on multiplex panels for syndromic diagnosis, resistance detection to guide antimicrobial stewardship and enhanced connectivity to support public health responses. Collectively, POCT represents a paradigm shift towards decentralised, patient-centred care in the control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

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Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Point-of-care testing (POCT): Diagnostic procedures performed at or near the site of patient care, enabling rapid results and immediate management decisions.

Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT): A molecular assay that amplifies specific pathogen DNA or RNA sequences to detect infections with high sensitivity and specificity.

Lateral flow assay: A paper-based strip test that delivers visual results through antigen–antibody interactions, often used for rapid, qualitative detection.

Sensitivity and specificity: Measures of diagnostic accuracy; sensitivity denotes the ability to detect true positives, and specificity denotes the ability to exclude false positives.

Connectivity system: Electronic infrastructure that captures, transmits and integrates POCT results into clinical and public health databases for quality assurance and surveillance.

References

1. Highly‐Specific Single‐Stranded Oligonucleotides and Functional Nanoprobes for Clinical Determination of Chlamydia Trachomatis and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Infections. Advanced Science (2023).
2. Flexible and Innovative Connectivity Solution to Support National Decentralized Infectious Diseases Point-of-Care Testing Programs in Primary Health Services: Descriptive Evaluation Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).
3. Economic evaluation alongside a clinical trial of near-to-patient testing for sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Infection and Public Health (2024).