Researchers warn there could be concerning implications for patient care and public health
Few UK online sexually transmitted infection test services meet national recommended standards, with independent sector providers the least likely to be compliant, finds a new study published in BMJ Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The findings of this study, carried out by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and University of Bristol, have concerning implications for patient care and public health, warn the researchers, who call for urgent regulatory change to ensure full compliance.
Online tests are either self-sampling, where the user orders a kit and takes a specimen themselves before posting it for laboratory analysis, or self-testing, where the user takes a specimen and interprets the test result themselves.
Online testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is subject to limited regulatory oversight. But the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) have issued comprehensive national standards and guidelines covering all aspects of these services.
The researchers wanted to find out how well online UK STI test services comply with these standards and guidelines.
They searched Google and Amazon in June 2020 to find online providers, and found 13 offered self-test kits, 18 offered self-sample kits. They also found two laboratories servicing several providers.
All 13 self-test providers and 13 of the 18 self-sampling providers were privately run. All but one of the self-sample providers were from the UK.
