Anita Groos1, Shelley Peardon-Freeman2, Kim McFarlane2, Simone Braithwaite3, Deepa Gajjar4, Pamela Murch5, Catherine Spucches5. 1. Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia; and Corresponding author. Email: anita.groos@health.qld.gov.au. 2. Health Contact Centre, Health Support Queensland, GPO Box 48, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. 3. Preventive Health Branch, Queensland Department of Health, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia. 4. Health Service Strategy and Planning, Metro North Hospital and Health Services, Level 14, Block 7, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Qld 4029, Australia. 5. Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
Abstract
Background A free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service (Webtest) is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. There are two options to provide a urine sample: at a pathology collection centre or by using a home mailing kit. The study aimed to trial these two testing options designed for young people and describe which is the preferred testing choice. METHODS: Data for online requests made from 3 August 2017 to 31 December 2019 provides information for age, gender, location of clients, results received, treatment and partner notification reported by people with positive results. RESULTS: For 29 months, there were 4642 Webtest requests and 2906 valid results received. For young people (16-29 years), chlamydia positivity was 8.2% (172/2105; 95% CI, 7.1-9.4) versus 3.2% (26/801; 95% CI, 2.2-4.7) for people aged ≥30 years, and 6.8% (198/2906; 95% CI, 6.0-7.8) for all ages. Home mailing kits were the most popular testing choice, with 68.0% (1977/2906) of results received from urine submitted by post and 32.0% (929/2906) via pathology collection centre. CONCLUSIONS: The free online test request service engaged young people at risk of sexually transmissible infections and found home sample collection was most popular.
Background A free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service (Webtest) is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. There are two options to provide a urine sample: at a pathology collection centre or by using a home mailing kit. The study aimed to trial these two testing options designed for young people and describe which is the preferred testing choice. METHODS: Data for online requests made from 3 August 2017 to 31 December 2019 provides information for age, gender, location of clients, results received, treatment and partner notification reported by people with positive results. RESULTS: For 29 months, there were 4642 Webtest requests and 2906 valid results received. For young people (16-29 years), chlamydia positivity was 8.2% (172/2105; 95% CI, 7.1-9.4) versus 3.2% (26/801; 95% CI, 2.2-4.7) for people aged ≥30 years, and 6.8% (198/2906; 95% CI, 6.0-7.8) for all ages. Home mailing kits were the most popular testing choice, with 68.0% (1977/2906) of results received from urine submitted by post and 32.0% (929/2906) via pathology collection centre. CONCLUSIONS: The free online test request service engaged young people at risk of sexually transmissible infections and found home sample collection was most popular.