Rapid point of care testing for four bacterial sexually transmitted infections using the portable isothermal loop-mediated nucleic acid amplification eazyplex platform.

PURPOSE: To analyze sensitivity and specificity of the rapid point-of-care (POC) eazyplex testing platform for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS

272 anal, urethral, and pharyngeal swabs collected from 153 MSM were tested by both the eazyplex platform and an in-house PCR or culture in the university microbiology reference laboratory.

RESULTS

Compared to the reference diagnostic method, the overall sensitivity/specificity of eazyplex was 88%/98% for N. gonorrhoeae, 82%/100% for C. trachomatis, 70%/ > 99% for U. urealyticum, and 85%/98% for M. hominis, respectively. Sensitivity for N. gonorrhoeae and U. urealyticum in urethral samples was 100%.

CONCLUSION

With good to very good sensitivity depending on the sampling site and pathogen as well as very good specificity overall the eazyplex platform is a useful rapid diagnostic method for POC bacterial STI-testing especially for N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis, allowing for almost immediate treatment initiation.