Comparing mail-in self-collected specimens sent via United States Postal Service versus clinic-collected specimens for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in extra-genital sites

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189515
• Publication Date: 2017-12-14T13:32:42Z
• Authors: Katheryn R. Salow; Adam C. Cohen; Claire C. Bristow; Mark R. McGrath; Jeffrey D. Klausner
• Keywords: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Sex organ

To evaluate the concordance between clinic-collected extra-genital specimens and self-collected mailed-in among participants seeking sexually transmitted infection testing at a free clinic in Hollywood, CA.A convenience sample of 210 men who have sex with were enrolled February 29, 2016 December 21, received mail-in kits for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). All was performed using GeneXpert® CT/NG (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA).From distributed, 149 (71.0%) returned to laboratory, resulting 145 pairs (clinic-collected mail-in) rectal test results 148 pharyngeal both CT NG detection. The 95.0% all tests, 99.3% 95.7% 97.2% tests.Roughly two-thirds generally high, however more than one-third positive missed samples. prevalence potential false-negative samples warrants caution when implementing STI strategies.