We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES

Download Mobile App




Rapid POC STI Test Detects Chlamydiaa and Gonorrhea Simultaneously in Two Minutes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Oct 2023
Print article
Image: The lateral flow biosensor detects nucleic acids present in chlamydia or gonorrhea from in two minutes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)
Image: The lateral flow biosensor detects nucleic acids present in chlamydia or gonorrhea from in two minutes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

In 2020, the World Health Organization reported that over half of the estimated 374 million new sexually transmitted infections were either chlamydia or gonorrhea. These diseases often show no symptoms and can co-exist, posing a significant health risk. If left untreated, they can cause irreversible damage to a woman's reproductive system. Gonorrhea, increasingly resistant to antibiotics, can even be fatal if it spreads to the blood and joints. Despite the high incidence, there are currently no quick tests for either condition. However, this might soon change with the introduction of a lateral flow biosensor that can detect nucleic acids present in chlamydia or gonorrhea from cervical and vaginal swabs in just two minutes.

Existing point-of-care tests for these infections often don't work as well as they should and are not ideal for routine screenings during regular medical visits. Currently, standard tests rely on molecular techniques to detect bacterial nucleic acids but can be costly and time-consuming. Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA, USA) have announced the development of the first rapid tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The tests use a lateral flow biosensor, similar to those in at-home COVID-19 tests, to identify nucleic acids from chlamydia or gonorrhea in swab samples within minutes.

Just like a COVID test, the sample does not need pre-processing before being placed in a liquid that allows the contents to flow laterally from a reservoir over a sensing strip. This strip has specially designed fragments of nucleic acids, known as single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssDNAs), that have a strong affinity for specific genes found in various strains of chlamydia and gonorrhea. These ssDNAs change color when they bind to target nucleic acids, indicating a positive result. This technology was validated using an absorbance-based assay; each ssDNA probe was linked to a gold nanoparticle which has unique optical properties and changes color when the probe binds to its target. The gold nanoparticle also increases in diameter and aggregates with other probe/nanoparticle sensor complexes to strengthen the signal and deepen the color change.

In clinical tests involving 60 anonymous samples, the rapid tests correctly identified chlamydia and gonorrhea every time, with no false negatives. The specificity was slightly lower, at over 97%, meaning there were a few false positives. However, these results are as good as, or better than, current molecular tests like polymerase chain reaction or nucleic acid amplification tests. The researchers also mentioned that the test's design can be tweaked by altering the synthetic DNA sequences in the ssDNAs to identify other pathogens.

“The development of a point-of-care diagnostic method based on nucleic acid detection with high sensitivity, specificity and usability is urgently needed,” said Dipanjan Pan, a researcher at Penn State who led the study. “Moreover, since co-infections occur frequently — up to 50% of the time — and have similar symptoms, simultaneous identification and detection of both pathogens is more efficient and cost-effective. To combat the current epidemic of these STIs, it is vital to develop a rapid point-of-care diagnostic assay that can detect chlamydia and gonorrhea simultaneously.”

Related Links:
Penn State

Platinum Supplier
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA
Gold Supplier
Procalcitonin Test
LIAISON B•R•A•H•M•S PCT II GEN
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Supplier
Spinal Fluid Cell Count Control
Spinalscopics

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: A module with eight micro-devices, complete with microfluidic channels and drive motors (Photo courtesy of U.S Department of Energy)

Highly Sensitive pH Sensor to Aid Detection of Cancers and Vector-Borne Viruses

Understanding the acidity or alkalinity of substances through pH measurement is crucial in many fields, from environmental monitoring to healthcare product safety. In many cases, these measurements must... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The QScout hematology analyzer has received US FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Ad Astra Diagnostics)

First Rapid-Result Hematology Analyzer Reports Measures of Infection and Severity at POC

Sepsis, a critical medical condition that arises as an extreme response to infection, poses a significant health threat. It occurs when an infection triggers a widespread inflammatory response in the body.... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: PointCheck is the world’s first device for non-invasive white cell monitoring (Photo courtesy of Leuko Labs)

World’s First Portable, Non-Invasive WBC Monitoring Device to Eliminate Need for Blood Draw

One of the toughest challenges for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is experiencing a low count of white blood cells, also known as neutropenia. These cells play a crucial role in warding off infections.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Current testing methods for antibiotic susceptibility rely on growing bacterial colonies in the presence of antibiotics (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Returns Results within 30 Minutes

In 2019, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was responsible for the deaths of approximately 1.3 million individuals. The conventional approach for testing antimicrobial susceptibility involves cultivating... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI methods used in satellite imaging can help researchers analyze tumor images (Photo courtesy of Karolinska Institutet)

AI Approach Combines Satellite Imaging and Ecology Techniques for Analysis of Tumor Tissue

Advancements in tumor imaging technology have significantly enhanced our ability to observe the minute details of tumors, but this also brings the challenge of interpreting vast amounts of data generated... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The acquisition significantly expands Medix Biochemica’s portfolio of IVD raw materials (Photo courtesy of ViroStat)

Medix Biochemica Acquires US-Based ViroStat to Expand Infectious Diseases Antibody Offering

Medix Biochemica (Espoo, Finland), a supplier of critical raw materials to the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry, has acquired ViroStat LLC (Portland, ME, USA), a provider of infectious disease antibodies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.