Groos A, Peardon-Freeman S, McFarlane K, Braithwaite S, Gajjar D, Murch P, Spucches C. Free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test request in Queensland, Australia: convenience of home sample collection versus pathology collection centre attendance for faster results.
Sex Health 2021;
18:254-259. [PMID:
34148563 DOI:
10.1071/sh21029]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background A free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service (Webtest) is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. There are two options to provide a urine sample: at a pathology collection centre or by using a home mailing kit. The study aimed to trial these two testing options designed for young people and describe which is the preferred testing choice.
METHODS
Data for online requests made from 3 August 2017 to 31 December 2019 provides information for age, gender, location of clients, results received, treatment and partner notification reported by people with positive results.
RESULTS
For 29 months, there were 4642 Webtest requests and 2906 valid results received. For young people (16-29 years), chlamydia positivity was 8.2% (172/2105; 95% CI, 7.1-9.4) versus 3.2% (26/801; 95% CI, 2.2-4.7) for people aged ≥30 years, and 6.8% (198/2906; 95% CI, 6.0-7.8) for all ages. Home mailing kits were the most popular testing choice, with 68.0% (1977/2906) of results received from urine submitted by post and 32.0% (929/2906) via pathology collection centre.
CONCLUSIONS
The free online test request service engaged young people at risk of sexually transmissible infections and found home sample collection was most popular.
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