Use of point-of-care nucleic acid amplification testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea in community outreach settings in Dallas, Texas, USA

Background Point-of-care (POC) testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea has seen significant advancements, with nucleic acid amplification tests yielding results within 30 min. The aims of this study were to: (1) describe implementation of POC nucleic acid amplification testing in urban non-clinical outreach settings, and (2) explore demographic and symptom correlates of test positivity to inform testing strategies. Methods A program evaluation and retrospective data review was conducted of individuals undergoing POC sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in non-clinical testing sites in Dallas, Texas, USA. Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests were used to investigate the association between positive test results with demographic characteristics and presence of symptoms. Results Ninety-eight individuals were tested using the binx io CT/NG Assay. There were 12 cases of chlamydia and 5 cases of gonorrhea diagnosed within 30 min of testing, and all were referred for treatment within 1 day of testing. No statistically significant associations were detected between test positivity and demographics or symptoms; however, analyses were limited by small sample size. Conclusions POC nucleic acid amplification testing enabled rapid diagnosis and referral in this urban outreach setting. Further evaluation of scalability, cost and treatment completion is warranted.