New Aussie STI self-test could revolutionise disease detection
By Rachel Baxendale

Clinicians and scientists are hopeful that world-first Australian innovations in self-testing for sexually transmitted diseases will reduce their prevalence – particularly among high risk groups – as well as lowering the burden on the health system from clinic and laboratory-based tests.

Sydney-based Atomo Diagnostics has partnered with Melbourne’s Burnet Institute to develop a syphilis test that would not only be Australia’s first self-test for the disease but the first syphilis test in the world to be able to differentiate between active and past infections.

Atomo is also the manufacturer of Australia’s leading HIV self-testing kit, and the company and sexual health experts believe the overlap between groups at risk for both HIV and syphilis presents an opportunity to integrate self-tests for the two diseases with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for HIV.

Currently, patients must attend a GP or sexual health clinic and submit to blood tests for HIV and other STIs every three months in order to qualify for PrEP – antiretroviral medication taken prior to potential exposure to reduce the risk of transmission of the disease.