Microbiology Point-of-Care Testing
Self-administered vaginal swabs are taken and tested for 30 minutes with a monoclonal antibody against Chlamydia LPS.
The Chlamydia Rapid Test showed an overall resolved sensitivity of 83.5% and a positive predictive value of 86.7%, as compared with the gold-standard PCR.
Point-of-care DNA-based microbiological diagnostics
Dr. Michel Bergeron, from the Univeristy of Laval, has developed DNA-based diagnostic testing and licensed his technology to BD, which now sells GeneOhm.
Using real-time PCR, specimen to seqence can take less than 2 hours.
This has potential for primary and global care.
Rapid Antigen Testing
One small study examined Newfoundland GPs using GAS decision rules and rapid antigen testing, finding rapid antigen tests reduced antibiotic prescription rates (Worrall et al, 2007)