Point-of-care tests are key to controlling and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The UN Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been working to ensure these tests are not only available, but also reliable. As such, HRP has coordinated the largest-ever project on field evaluations of STI diagnostics across 15 countries, 30 sites and including more than 17 000 participants.
This webinar will launch a supplement of seven journal articles in BMC Infectious Diseases entitled Point-of-care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections: results of an independent multi-country clinic-based and clinic-utility evaluation of STI diagnostics (PRoSPeRo project).
The results of this work have already led to changes in the national policies of some countries.
Programme
Chairs: James Kiarie and Igor Toskin, UN Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP) and Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
- Welcome and Introduction, Pascale Allotey, Director of HRP and SRH at WHO
- Independent clinic-based evaluation of dual POC tests for screening of HIV and syphilis in men who have sex with men in Italy, Malta, Peru and the United Kingdom, Professor Nigel Sherriff, University of Brighton, UK
- External Quality Assessment (EQA) within the clinic-based evaluation of dual HIV/syphilis POC tests in seven countries, Weiping Cao Medlin, MBBS, Ph.D., Team Lead, Syphilis & Emerging STIs Team, STD Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, DSTDP, NCHHSTP, CDC, WHO Collaborating Center for STIs Prevention, USA
- Clinic-based evaluation of POC tests for the screening of genital and extragenital chlamydial and gonococcal infections in men who have sex with men, Maddalena Cordioli, MD, PhD, University of Verona, Italy
- POC testing for the screening of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea and Trichomonas vaginalis in women-at-risk for these infections in Australia, Guatemala, Morocco, and South Africa (with commentary on quality control and EQA for STI testing), Professor Mark Shephard, Founding Director and Matthew Flinders Professor, Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Clinic-based evaluation of STI POC tests: Supplement Editors’ perspective, Ronald C Ballard, PhD, Guest Editor, Special Issue BMC Infectious Diseases; Consultant, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH), World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
- Questions and Answers
