STI Molecular Test Delivers Rapid POC Results for Treatment Guidance

Scout Health (Santa Clara, CA, USA) is finalizing the development of STI Scout, a rapid molecular test for detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections in under 30 minutes. The STI Scout test can use either first void urine or vaginal swabs, and future tests will be able to guide therapy for gonorrhea treatment based on antibiotic susceptibility. Designed for both point-of-care (POC) and over-the-counter (OTC) use, the test runs on the Scout Hub near-patient molecular platform, which enables earlier organism identification, resistance prediction, and better antimicrobial stewardship.

The Scout Hub test platform leverages a proprietary molecular chemistry that enables rapid detection of multiple pathogens in a single tube. This results in a test platform with orders-of-magnitude lower cost than commercially available clinical solutions while maintaining a sensitivity that can detect targets missed by rapid antigen tests. Because the system relies on minimal hardware and low-cost consumables, it can be manufactured and scaled efficiently. STI Scout uses the Scout Connect mobile app, which provides instructions, tracks results, and eventually will also allow patients to connect digitally to a healthcare provider.

Scout has been awarded additional funding from CARB-X to investigate a pilot in a low- or middle-income country, reflecting the platform's ability to extend high-quality molecular STI testing to resource and infrastructure-constrained settings. Expanding access to accurate molecular testing in settings where treatment is often empirical can support more appropriate therapy decisions and help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

"Cost is the number one barrier for adoption of rapid molecular testing in the US and abroad,” said Alex Jiao, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Scout. “COVID showed the limits of expensive, complex systems. Even with strong performance, their economics made sustained adoption impossible. Scout has focused on lowering cost through advances in chemistry and simplifying test design, enabling a platform that meets molecular performance requirements at a price point that supports a lasting, impactful solution."

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