A STUDY TO ESTIMATE THE SITE-SPECIFIC PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS (CT) AND NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE (GC) AT PHARYNGEAL, URETHRAL AND RECTAL SITES IN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) AND TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF POOLING SELF-COLLECTED SAMPLES FOR THE DETECTION OF THESE INFECTIONS IN ONE SAMPLE USING THE BD PROBETEC™ GC/CT QX AMPLIFIED DNA ASSAY
Trial acronym: Pooled Swab 3 in 1
Description
Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain the group at greatest risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, while rates of acute STIs among these men are continuing to rise. Neisseria gonorrhoea (GC) and chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are the most commonly diagnosed STIs among MSM. These infections are largely asymptomatic and detection therefore relies on men attending for regular screening.
When testing for CT and GC in MSM, currently the practice is to send three samples from each patient – one swab from each of the pharynx and rectum, and a urine sample – to be tested separately for CT and GC. However, it is possible to ‘pool’ the swabs and urine together in one sample pot, to be tested once.
A similar study to this proposed project carried out in London in 2012 showed that slightly more GC infections were picked up with pooled samples and a few more CT infections were detected on single site testing. Thus although there may not necessarily be an overall increase in the number of infections detected, the pooled sample would offer comparable rates of detection along with the cost saving of only having to process one specimen in the laboratory. Whilst the results of the London study would strongly suggest that this proposed study might yield significant results, the population differences are such that we cannot assume that such results will be replicated at all testing centres.
Study design: This is a cross-sectional, clinical, laboratory and questionnaire based study.
Trial status: Recruiting
Chief Investigator: Dr Suneeta Soni
Trial Manager: Jane Cox
Start date: 11 December 2015
Predicted end date: March 2017
Recruitment target: 750
Summary of study results: n/a
Patient Information Sheet
DOWNLOAD Patient information sheet >
For further information contact:
E: Jane.Cox@bsuh.nhs.uk