An online sexual health site offers home-based test kits for STIs, cervical cancer and more Samples collected are processed in certified laboratories, with option for a teleconsultation Some doctors said that there are potential downsides and risks for such home screening kits Accuracy depends on several factors, including timing and sensitivity of the tests SINGAPORE — These days, options are open to have a teleconsultation with a doctor or have medications delivered without patients having to leave home. Never has virtual healthcare been more relevant during this time of physical distancing due to a pandemic, especially when limited clinic appointments make it harder for people to see a doctor or get the treatments they need. Now, a company is offering another such convenience: Those at risk of acquiring sexual diseases can get screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis without having to step into a clinic. Singapore-headquartered Ferne Health claims to be the first online sexual health platform here to supply home-based screening kits for common STIs, cervical cancer as well as yeast infection. For people who want to test for STIs, the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control (DSC) Clinic is typically the place to go. It is a public specialist facility located at Kelantan Lane in Jalan Besar that provides diagnosis, treatment and control of STIs. Adjunct Associate Professor Martin Chio, head of the DSC Clinic, told TODAY that it is also planning to pilot home-testing kits in the future to add to its services. DTAP Clinic, a private clinic that offers testing for HIV and STIs, also told TODAY that in the past couple of months, it has been offering people the choice of using home kits to facilitate testing. Its “DTAP to Home” service allows patients to receive their test kit at home after a teleconsultation with its medical team. Samples are collected and dropped off at the clinic via courier. Alternatively, patients may visit the DTAP Express Clinic in Tanjong Pagar, get themselves registered, answer a short questionnaire and obtain a self-testing kit. After drawing the saliva, urine or needed sample at the clinic or at home, they drop it off in the clinic’s collection bin. Patients will get their test results via a confidential phone text message or email, and if needed, they may also pick up treatment packs for themselves or their partners thereafter. A medical team is on hand for teleconsultation, DTAP Clinic said, and key results are made known to the patient in less than three days compared to a week for on-site testing. This enables patients to get treatments faster, thereby reducing disease transmission to partners. “Patients who have been initially sceptical about home testing get guided support by our medical team, especially those who have seen us in clinic before and decide to get their routine testing done at home,” it added. As for Ferne Health, the sampling kits can be bought online on its website, which was launched in September. Once delivered, users draw the sample at home before arranging for Ferne Health to pick up and send the samples to a third-party laboratory for testing. The screening results are reviewed by its partner clinic and delivered via email. The online platform also runs a blog that provides updates on sexual healthcare information and resources. Ms Xi Liu, 28, founder and chief executive officer of Ferne Health, said that there has been a strong interest in the screening kits, and more than half of the buyers go for a kit that tests for HIV, syphilis and herpes — called the Peace of Mind package. The company offers three screening kits targeted at women: The cervical cancer human papillomavirus (HPV) screening kit The gonorrhoea and chlamydia kit The Made for Women screening kit that tests for urinary tract infection, yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis There is also a test kit targeted at men that screens for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. A screening kit by Ferne Health for men and women to check for gonorrhea and chlamydia costs S$180 for each set. Photo: Ferne Health Prices range from S$50 for the women-targeted screening kit that tests for yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis to S$200 for a cervical cancer screening kit. WHY IT IS SELLING THE TEST KITS Ms Liu said that regardless of age, sexually active individuals should undergo STI tests and sexual health checkups. For those who engage in high-risk sexual activities, frequent STI testing is recommended. Through questionnaires on STIs and interviews with gynaecologists and people across Asia, Ferne Health found that there is a general lack of awareness on sexual health in the region, and Ms Liu hopes to change the way people in Asia take charge of their sexual health. For instance, a recent sexual well-being questionnaire for Singapore women done by the firm found that half of the respondents have never taken a Pap smear or HPV test although they are past the recommended age of 30, she said. Dr Vivek Manoharan, co-founder and chief scientific officer for Ferne Health, said that when detected early, the chance of preventing or successfully managing STI-related complications greatly increases. “According to the World Health Organization, there is evidence that if given an option, the convenience of self-testing is
Check the source site
DIY home kits: How useful are they for screening HIV, STIs and cervical cancer
