Sensitivity requirements for the point-of-care diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis and Niesseria gonorrhoeae in women

Abstract

Most current tests for N.gonorrhoeae and C.trachomatis require the support of laboratory facilities, and usually take several days to process. This delay can lead to patients not returning for treatment and may allow further STI transmission to occur. Current rapid point-of-care (POC) STI tests and the syndromic approach are less sensitive than gold-standard tests, but allow treatment at the initial visit. This study estimates the required sensitivity of POC tests that ensures as many STIs are averted as with current gold-standard tests. Methods: A mathematical model is developed to compare the STIs averted using different STI diagnostic methods. Data from Benin, South Africa, Tanzania and England is used to explore how the required sensitivity differs between settings