scholarly journals Clinical Evaluation of a Self-Testing Kit for Vaginal Infection Diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ching-Ju Shen ◽  
Chung-Yao Yang ◽  
Huan-Yun Chen ◽  
Wei-Chun Chen ◽  
Ting-Chang Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Management ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Vaginal Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Test Tool ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Personal Nature ◽  
Self Test ◽  
Measurable Change

Vaginitis is a common disorder among women of varying ages that arises from a change in the normal pH balance of vaginal bacteria or an infection. Characteristic symptoms of itching, irritation, and odor cause considerable discomfort and increase the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections. Because of the sensitive and personal nature of the condition, some women may be reluctant to seek treatment. This behavior not only fails to solve the problem but may also delay medical treatment and result in additional medical complications. The pH changes associated with vaginitis and vaginosis, which are characterized by the presence or absence of inflammation, respectively, are well known but can vary. For example, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis infection will raise vaginal pH above 4.5, while vulvovaginal candidiasis does not result in any measurable change to pH. Nonetheless, diagnostic tools relying on pH measurement are a valuable approach from which additional testing and treatment may be launched. Here, we focused on the use of a vaginal self-test tool and tested 50 patients, including pregnant women. When used according to the instructions, the Hygeia Touch Self-Testing Kit for Vaginal Infection demonstrated over 88% accuracy compared to a clinical diagnostic workup, with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 89% in the patients where the swab was correctly interpreted. This study demonstrated an effective self-test method with high acceptability among women that provided them with greater autonomy regarding health management.

scholarly journals Evaluation and enumeration of online test providers for sexually transmitted infections, specifically chlamydia, in the Netherlands

2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 380-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal den Daas ◽  
Bob Sukel ◽  
Hanna Bos ◽  
Ingrid van den Broek
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Online Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Online Test ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Regular Care ◽  
Sample Test ◽  
Self Test

ObjectivesOnline testing for STIs might complement regular care provided by general practitioners or STI clinics. Two types of online testing can be distinguished, self-testing and self-sampling (sending sample to a laboratory for diagnosis). Online testing can occur without consultation with a healthcare professional, therefore information given by providers is essential for informed decision-making. We aimed to enumerate online test providers in the Netherlands focusing on chlamydia tests, to evaluate information using quality indicators and to gain insight on the proportion of online testing in the STI testing arena.MethodsWe performed a systematic internet search to identify online STI test providers. Twenty quality indicators were evaluated on their websites; indicator scores were weighted by level of importance (expert opinion). High scoring providers were recommended, on the condition that the sensitivity and specificity of the test were above 95% and providers included a follow-up procedure in case of a positive result. Finally, providers were contacted to inquire about the number of sold tests, positivity rates and demographic characteristics of testers.ResultsFive out of 12 identified self-sample test providers could be recommended, versus zero out of eight self-test providers. Self-sample test providers gave complete and correct information on more indicators (67%) compared with self-test providers (38%). In 2015, an estimated 30 000–40 000 self-sample tests were purchased, and 12 000–25 000 self-tests, which is roughly 10%–15% of the total number of STI tests.ConclusionThis evaluation shows that some online self-sample test providers could be put forward as way of STI testing complementing regular testing options. None of the self-test providers were recommended. Regularly evaluating online test providers is advised to improve quality of the information on the websites. Finally, self-testing might not be suited for all populations as most information is provided in written format only.

Development and Validation of a Portable Hearing Self-Testing System Based on a Notebook Personal Computer

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (08) ◽  
pp. 716-723
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Dong Yang ◽  
Fen Xiong ◽  
Lan Yu ◽  
Fei Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Personal Computer ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Test Method ◽  
The Self ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Self Test

Background: Hearing loss affects more than 27 million people in mainland China. It would be helpful to develop a portable and self-testing audiometer for the timely detection of hearing loss so that the optimal clinical therapeutic schedule can be determined. Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a software-based hearing self-testing system. Research Design: The software-based self-testing system consisted of a notebook computer, an external sound card, and a pair of 10-Ω insert earphones. The system could be used to test the hearing thresholds by individuals themselves in an interactive manner using software. The reliability and validity of the system at octave frequencies of 0.25 Hz to 8.0 kHz were analyzed in three series of experiments. Study Sample: Thirty-seven normal-hearing particpants (74 ears) were enrolled in experiment 1. Forty individuals (80 ears) with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) participated in experiment 2. Thirteen normal-hearing participants (26 ears) and 37 participants (74 ears) with SNHL were enrolled in experiment 3. Each participant was enrolled in only one of the three experiments. Data Collection and Analysis: In all experiments, pure-tone audiometry in a sound insulation room (standard test) was regarded as the gold standard. SPSS for Windows, version 17.0, was used for statistical analysis. The paired t-test was used to compare the hearing thresholds between the standard test and software-based self-testing (self-test) in experiments 1 and 2. In experiment 3 (main study), one-way analysis of variance and post hoc comparisons were used to compare the hearing thresholds among the standard test and two rounds of the self-test. Linear correlation analysis was carried out for the self-tests performed twice. The concordance was analyzed between the standard test and the self-test using the kappa method. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Experiments 1 and 2: The hearing thresholds determined by the two methods were not significantly different at frequencies of 250, 500, or 8000 Hz (p > 0.05) but were significantly different at frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (p < 0.05), except for 1000 Hz in the right ear in experiment 2. Experiment 3: The hearing thresholds determined by the standard test and self-tests repeated twice were not significantly different at any frequency (p > 0.05). The overall sensitivity of the self-test method was 97.6%, and the specificity was 98.3%. The sensitivity was 97.6% and the specificity was 97% for the patients with SNHL. The self-test had significant concordance with the standard test (kappa value = 0.848, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This portable hearing self-testing system based on a notebook personal computer is a reliable and sensitive method for hearing threshold assessment and monitoring.

MCQs in Travel Medicine

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dom Colbert
Keyword(s):  
International Society ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Disease ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Travel Medicine ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Adventure Travel ◽  
Self Test

Specifically written for those preparing for examinations and practitioners in travel medicine, MCQs in Travel Medicine contains over 600 multiple choice questions with detailed explanations which both teach and challenge the reader. Questions are group by topic which is ideal for revision, enabling you to focus on specific areas including adventure travel, travellers' diarrhoea, malaria, sexually transmitted disease, and drugs used in travel medicine. The style and format of the questions mirror the format of the exam questions, and the book includes a self-test to aid revision. This easy-to-read comprehensive book is ideally suited for those in busy day-to-day practices and those preparing for examinations in travel medicine including the Certificate Exam of the International Society of Travel Medicine.

scholarly journals Analytical Performance of the Exacto Test HIV Self-Test: A Cross-Sectional Field Study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serge Tonen-Wolyec ◽  
Jérémie Muwonga Masidi ◽  
Luc Ferdinand Kamanga Lukusa ◽  
Gaetan Nsiku Dikumbwa ◽  
Angèle Sarassoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Analytical Performance ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Excellent Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Performance Sensitivity ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Self Test

Abstract The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has begun implementing HIV self-testing to boost the first “95” of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2025. This study aims to assess the performance and usability of the Exacto Test HIV (Biosynex, Strasbourg, France) self-test in the lab and in the field. The Exacto Test HIV self-test demonstrated high virological performance (sensitivity, 99.6%; specificity, 100%) in the lab and in the field in the hand of untrained users (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98.9%). Taken together, the excellent performance and usability characteristics of the Exacto Test HIV (Biosynex) self-test make the kit a viable option for HIV self-testing in the DRC.

scholarly journals HIV testing and its associated factors among street-based female sex workers in Iran: results of a national rapid assessment and response survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Ahmadi ◽  
Mehrdad Khezri ◽  
Payam Roshanfekr ◽  
Salah Eddin Karimi ◽  
Meroe Vameghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Multivariable Model ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Female Sex ◽  
Self Testing

Abstract Background Female sex workers (FSWs) are at a disproportionate risk of sexually transmitted infections and they may face significant barriers to HIV testing. This study aimed to examine HIV testing prevalence and its associated factors among street-based FSWs in Iran. Method A total of 898 FSWs were recruited from 414 venues across 19 major cities in Iran between October 2016 and March 2017. Eligible FSWs were women aged 18 years of age who had at least one commercial sexual intercourse in the previous year. HIV testing was defined as having tested for HIV in the lifetime. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the correlates of HIV testing. We report adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Result Overall, 57.8% (95%CI: 20.0, 88.0) of participants reported having tested for HIV, and HIV prevalence among FSWs who tested for HIV was 10.3% (95%CI: 7.5, 13.0). The multivariable model showed that unstable housing (aOR: 8.86, 95%CI: 2.68, 29.32) and drug use (aOR: 3.47, 95%CI: 1.33, 9.06) were associated with increased likelihood of HIV testing. However, FSWs with a higher level of income were less likely to be tested for HIV (aOR: 0.09, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.43). Conclusion Almost one in ten street-based FSWs had never tested for HIV. These findings suggest the need for evidence-based strategies such as outreach support and HIV self-testing to improve HIV testing in this marginalized population.

scholarly journals How to activate students’ natural desire to test themselves

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalif E. Vaughn ◽  
Nate Kornell
Keyword(s):  
Retrieval Practice ◽  
Study Phase ◽  
Presentation Condition ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Testing Experiment ◽  
Self Test

Abstract Testing oneself (i.e., doing retrieval practice) is an effective way to study. We attempted to make learners choose to test themselves more often. In Experiment 1, participants were asked how they wanted to study and were given four options: retrieval with no hint (e.g., idea: ______), a two-letter hint (e.g., idea: s____r), a four-letter hint (e.g., idea: se__er), or a presentation trial (e.g., idea: seeker). They tested themselves on the majority of trials. In Experiment 2, when the hint options were removed, they chose restudy rather than pure test on the majority of trials. These findings show that people prefer self-testing over restudy as long as they can get the answer right on the test. However, we would not recommend hints if they impaired learning compared to pure testing. Experiment 3 showed that this was not the case; the three retrieval conditions from Experiment 1 led to equivalent amounts of learning, and all three outperformed the pure presentation condition. We used different materials in Experiment 4 and found that the hints made retrieval slightly less beneficial when the hints made it possible to guess the answers without thinking back to the study phase (e.g., whip: pu__sh). In summary, hints catalyzed people’s intuitive desire to self-test, without any downside for learning, thus making their self-regulated study more enjoyable and effective.

Feasibility of Indirect Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-Test Kits via WeChat Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A National Cross-Sectional Study in China (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Shangcao ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Xiang Mao ◽  
Tianyi Lu ◽  
Yangyang Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Hiv Test ◽  
Condomless Anal Intercourse ◽  
Secondary Distribution ◽  
Self Test ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND The use of HIV self-test (HST) kits is commonplace in key sexually active populations. The direct secondary distribution of HST kits (DSDHK) is effective in improving the uptake of HIV self-testing. However, there are concerns about various limitations of DSDHK, including limited geographic location, payment problems, and face-to-face interaction. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the feasibility and characteristics of the indirect secondary distribution of HST kits (ISDHK) via WeChat (distributing HST application links and follow-up HST kits to partners) among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS From October 2017 to September 2019, an HIV self-testing (HIVST) recruitment advertisement was disseminated on the WeChat social media platform to invite MSM to apply for HST kits (referred to as “index participants” [Ips]). All of the MSM participants were encouraged to distribute the HST application link to their friends and sexual partners (referred to as “Alters”) through their social networks. All Alters were further encouraged to continue to distribute the HST application link. All participants paid a deposit (USD 7), refundable upon completion of the questionnaire and uploading of the test result via an online survey system. RESULTS 2,263 MSM met the criteria and successfully applied for HST. Of these, 1,816 participants returned their HST test results, including 1,422 (88.3%) IPs and 394 (21.7%) Alters. Compared with the IPs, the Alters practiced more condomless anal intercourse (CAI), a higher proportion of them never previously had an HIV test, and they had a greater willingness to distribute HST kits to sexual partners (all p < 0.05). After controlling for age, education, and income, the Alters had a greater proportion of MSM who had never tested for HIV before (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.00–1.68), were more willing to distribute the HST application link (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.21–2.40), had a lower number of sexual partners (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.57–0.90), and were less likely to search for sexual partners via online means (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.60–1.02). In comparison, the rates of reactive HST results, conducting HIV confirmatory tests, HIV seropositivity, and initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) were similar for IPs and Alters. CONCLUSIONS The ISDHK mode of distributing HST application links via social media is feasible among the MSM population. The ISDHK mode should be used to supplement the DSDHK mode in order to enable a greater proportion of the MSM population to know their HIV infection status.

Research on Self-Test Method Based on Thermopile Infrared Sensor

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjian Ke ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Hong Zhou ◽  
Tie Li ◽  
Yuelin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Test Method ◽  
Infrared Sensor ◽  
Self Test

Acceptability and correlates of HIV self-testing among university students in northern Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 820-831
Author(s):  
Zubairu Iliyasu ◽  
Radeeyah B Kassim ◽  
Bilkisu Z Iliyasu ◽  
Taiwo G Amole ◽  
Nafisa S Nass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Consistent Condom ◽  
Consistent Condom Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Program Of Study ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Self Test ◽  
Testing And Counseling

Concerns about stigma and confidentiality limit the uptake of HIV testing and counseling (HTC) among young adults. HIV self-testing has been offered as a youth-friendly alternative to conventional HTC. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess HTC uptake, willingness to self-test, and their predictors among university students ( n =  399) in Kano, Nigeria. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were provided to participants. Adjusted odd ratios were generated for predictors with logistic regression models. The results showed that only 35.8% ( n =  143) of participants had previous HTC.Most respondents (70.4%, n =  281) were willing to self-test. HTC was associated with year of college (500 Level vs. 100 Level), adjusted odds ratio (AOR, [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] = 0.44 (0.19–0.97), campus residence (off- vs. on-campus, AOR = 0.45; 95%CI: 0.28–0.73), sexual activity in the past six months (AOR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.24–0.64), willingness to self-test (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.22–0.66), and consistent condom use (AOR = 4.45; 95%CI: 1.41–14.08). Students who were older (≥ 30 vs. <20 years, AOR = 0.20; 95%CI: 0.05–0.90) and female (AOR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.32–0.98) were less likely to be willing to self-test, whereas students who were more senior (500 Level vs. 100 Level, AOR = 5.24; 95%CI: 1.85–14.84), enrolled in clinical science programs (vs. agriculture, AOR = 4.92; 95%CI: 1.51–16.05) or belonging to “other” ethnic groups (vs. Hausa–Fulani, AOR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.11–5.19) were more willing to self-test. Overall HTC uptake was low, but acceptability of self-testing was high. College seniority, age, ethnicity, and program of study were associated with willingness to self-test. Our findings support the feasibility of scaling up HIV self-testing among university students in Nigeria.

scholarly journals The Biological Safety of Condom Material Can Be Determined Using anIn VitroCell Culture System

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Motsoane ◽  
E. Pretorius ◽  
M. J. Bester ◽  
P. J. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Test System ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Biological Safety ◽  
Latex Gloves ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Medical Materials ◽  
Hiv Aids

Latex products have long been recognized as a cause of latex protein allergy. The increased usage of latex gloves, with the consequent increased occurrence of latex allergies appears to have escalated with increasing awareness of the transmission of HIV–AIDS and other infections. The use of condoms as a means to prevent the transmission of STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) and HIV–AIDS has been widely promoted. Although extensive testing is done to evaluate the physical quality of condoms, no information is available regarding the biological safety of condoms. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of short‐term exposure to physiological levels of condom surface material on cell viability (MTT assay) and cell growth (crystal violet assay). A direct contact cell culture testing method (FDA test method F813‐83 used to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of medical materials and devices) was used. The modified test method was found to be a sensitive test system for the evaluation of the biological safety of condoms. This study reveals the importance of evaluating the biological safety of all condoms that are commercially available, because of the potential health risk that may be associated with prolonged use of certain types of condoms.

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