Skip to main content
STI 2024 Prevention Conference Main banner
Final Program


Abstract Book
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

Poster Session I: STI Testing Programs

(P94) EXPANDING FREE HOME-COLLECTION STI TESTING IN URBAN AND RURAL PITTSBURGH TO ENABLE ACCESS AND LINKAGE TO CARE

Tuesday, September 17, 2024
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM EST
Background:
Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and Neelyx Labs offer a home-collection testing program for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening and linkage to care for area residents. Here, we report on our experience with this program with takeaways for other health departments who might consider implementing the same.

Methods:
Through ACHD’s website and via an online awareness campaign leveraging advertisements on hook-up applications like Grindr and social media platforms like Facebook, Allegheny County residents can order at-home collection kits for gonorrhea and chlamydia laboratory tests at no-cost to them. Adults reporting a zip code within the county create an account and complete a brief health assessment to request a kit. An ACHD provider standing order covers 3-site (oral, penile, anal) swab tests for men who have sex with men (MSM) and 1-site (genital) swab tests for non-MSM participants. Kits are sent to homes, and participants are reminded to complete and return their kits via an e-platform. Once kits are returned to the lab, specimens are processed and results released within 48 hours directly to participants and ACHD. ACHD providers follow up on any positive results encouraging participants to visit the clinic and/or a partnered community pharmacy for treatment. Once complete, participants are asked to complete a short survey with their experience.

Results:
In the first quarter of 2024, 257 kits have been ordered and 66 of those kits have been returned (25.6%). Participants are evenly distributed in both rural and urban Pittsburgh. A 7.5% positivity rate for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea has been observed. All patients with a positive test result have received follow-up care either at ACHD’s medical clinic or at a partnered community pharmacy.

Conclusion:
Home-collection testing programs for STIs can increase access to care and can be a cost-effective intervention for public health departments.