Latest news with #VisbyMedicalWomen'sSexualHealthTest
New York Times
08-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
What to Know About At-Home S.T.I. Tests
Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections isn't always easy. It requires a trip to a doctor's office or clinic — a challenge if you don't have convenient options close by. Social stigma also remains a barrier for many, experts say. The good news? It is getting even easier to test yourself for S.T.I.s. The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the first diagnostic test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis that will be available without a prescription and can be performed entirely at home. The test is only for women, and can deliver results in about 30 minutes. The Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test is the latest advancement in home testing for S.T.I.s, coming on the heels of the authorization of the first at-home syphilis test in 2024. Experts expressed optimism that these tests could be an useful tool in the fight against S.T.I.s, which are often asymptomatic, but can cause devastating health complications. 'No one test is going to be the magic bullet,' said Dr. Aniruddha Hazra, medical director for the UChicago Medicine Sexual Wellness Clinic. 'But the more tests we have — the more options we have for patients — all goes toward reducing the obstacles or barriers that folks face in terms of taking care of their sexual health.' Rates of S.T.I.s have surged in the United States for years. And while there is some evidence rates may be leveling off, there were more than 2.4 million new syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia infections diagnosed in 2023. Despite the fact that testing is available for little to no cost at doctors' offices around the country, people may not go because it is inconvenient, because they do not believe they are at risk or because they do not feel comfortable. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA approves at-home chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis test for women
(NewsNation) — The Food and Drug Administration last week gave approval for an at-home chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis test for women. Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test can be taken by those with or without symptoms,and delivers results in about 30 minutes, the FDA said in a news release. This is the first diagnostic test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis that can be bought without a prescription and done entirely at home. Last year, the FDA also authorized an at-home syphilis test. 'Home tests can give people information about their health from the privacy of their home. This can be particularly important for sexual health tests for which patients may experience fear or anxiety, possibly resulting in delayed diagnosis or treatment,'Courtney Lias, Ph.D., director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Devices in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement. 'Expanding access to tests for sexually transmitted infections is an important step toward earlier and increased diagnosis, which can result in increased treatment and reduced spread of infection.' Tariffs will drive up prices of everyday goods from coffee to toys The Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test, according to the FDA, correctly identified 98.8% of negative and 97.2% of positive Chlamydia trachomatis samples; 99.1% of negative and 100% of positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae samples; and 98.5% of negative and 97.8% of positive Trichomonas vaginalis samples, according to the FDA. Adam de la Zerda, the founder and CEO of Visby Medical, said the test was in development for 12 years. 'This approval is not just a milestone for Visby Medical but marks a transformative moment in medical diagnostics,' de la Zerda said in a statement. 'We've achieved something incredible; our palm-sized, single-use PCR test is simple to use and replaces a bulky, large, expensive laboratory instrument.' The test is single-use and includes a collection kit and powered testing device. Once the test is complete, results are shown on the Visby Medical App. The Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test is a single use, at home test, that includes a collection kit (self-collected vaginal swab) and a powered testing device, which communicates securely to the Visby Medical App, which displays results when the test is complete. More than 600,000 cases of gonorrhea and over 1.6 million cases of chlamydia were reported in the U.S. in 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Report states. Trichomoniasis affected about 2.6 million people in 2021, per the CDC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
FDA approves first at-home, over-the-counter test for STIs. But there's a catch.
FDA approves first at-home, over-the-counter test for STIs. But there's a catch. The at-home, over-the-counter test screens for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. Show Caption Hide Caption Where to get tested for STIs Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise. Here's where to get properly tested. Self Improved, Self Improved The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-ever testing kit for sexually transmitted infections that can be taken at home without a prescription. But it's not for everyone. The FDA granted marketing authorization for the diagnostic test, the Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test, to Visby Medical on Friday. The at-home kit, according to the FDA, is the first of its kind to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, three of the most common STIs with symptoms that often go unnoticed. The kit is intended for use in female patients with or without symptoms. It is single-use and includes a vaginal swab and a powered testing device that connects to the Visby Medical App. Results are displayed on the app about 30 minutes after testing. An FDA press release issued Friday said the test was 97% to 100% accurate when identifying the presence or absence of the three STIs in women with or without symptoms. The release advised that those who test positive should seek medical care and those who have symptoms, recent exposure or other concerns should still contact their healthcare provider even if they get a negative result. 'Home tests can give people information about their health from the privacy of their home. This can be particularly important for sexual health tests for which patients may experience fear or anxiety, possibly resulting in delayed diagnosis or treatment,' Courtney Lias, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Devices in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement. 'Expanding access to tests for sexually transmitted infections is an important step toward earlier and increased diagnosis, which can result in increased treatment and reduced spread of infection.' The approval of this test opens the pathway for more at-home STI testing in the future, said the statement. At-home test tackles three most common STIs Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis are three of the most prevalent STIs in the U.S. Both chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial infections, while trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite. Gonorrhea can cause infection in the genitals, rectum and throat and often has no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chlamydia is also typically asymptomatic but can cause permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system. Trichomoniasis is caused by a one-celled protozoan, a type of tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. In 2021, the CDC reported that around 2.6 million Americans had been infected with trichomoniasis. Up to 70% of people have no symptoms when infected. According to the CDC's (STI) Surveillance Report, 601,319 cases of gonorrhea were reported in the U.S. in 2023, making it the second most common STI in the country. There were more than 1.6 million reported cases of chlamydia in the same year, making it the most common.
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Visby Medical Receives Landmark FDA De Novo Authorization for First-Ever OTC PCR Test for Sexual Health
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Visby Medical™, a leading innovator in medical diagnostics, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted De Novo authorization for the Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test for Over the Counter (OTC) use. This groundbreaking test enables reliable, rapid, and private at-home testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis—the three most common curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test represents a significant milestone as the first-ever PCR (polymerase chain reaction) diagnostic device approved by the FDA for OTC home use for any indication. Unlike existing home-based STI tests that require mailing samples to a lab, Visby's revolutionary technology provides results directly to users within 30 minutes, utilizing real PCR technology, which is recognized as the gold standard in diagnostic accuracy. 'This approval is not just a milestone for Visby Medical but marks a transformative moment in medical diagnostics,' said Adam de la Zerda, PhD, Founder and CEO of Visby Medical. 'We've achieved something incredible; our palm-sized, single-use PCR test is simple to use and replaces a bulky, large, expensive laboratory instrument. After 12 years of development, our device delivers rapid, reliable results directly into the hands of consumers, with unparalleled convenience and privacy. We also built a state-of-the-art, fully automated manufacturing line ready to rapidly scale production in anticipation of growing consumer demand.' Clinical studies involving over 2,000 lay users demonstrated that the Visby Medical Women's Sexual Health Test delivers accuracy comparable to traditional laboratory-based PCR machines, enabling healthcare providers to confidently prescribe treatment based on its results. An intuitive companion app guides users through the entire testing process, including sample collection, test execution and interpretation of results, while delivering a seamless connection to further care options. 'The clinical significance of bringing a rapid, highly accurate PCR diagnostic test into the home environment cannot be overstated,' said Gary Schoolnik, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Visby Medical. 'Extensive clinical studies validate that this test empowers women to quickly understand what steps to take next, giving them the privacy, control, and confidence to seek the care they need. Importantly, many patients infected with these STIs are non-symptomatic, yet they can still suffer serious long-term health consequences. Our test directly addresses this silent epidemic by enabling detection and treatment.' Sexually transmitted infections remain widespread in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately 1.6 million new Chlamydia cases and more than 700,000 Gonorrhea cases reported annually. Trichomoniasis also affects millions of people annually in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for rapid and accurate diagnosis. The granting of this De Novo marketing authorization positions Visby Medical for significant expansion into the at-home diagnostics market, with plans underway to introduce additional OTC tests addressing respiratory infections, sore throat conditions, urinary tract infections, and other common illnesses. 'This is just the beginning of our journey into reshaping healthcare through at-home diagnostics,' added Dr. de la Zerda. 'We will soon announce several strategic and commercial partnerships.' FDA's official announcement can be accessed here. About Visby Medical™ Founded in 2012, Visby Medical is revolutionizing infectious disease diagnosis by empowering both physicians and patients to accurately test for infections anywhere, anytime, with laboratory accuracy. The company's proprietary technology platform delivers true PCR results in under 30 minutes through the world's first instrument-free, single-use PCR tests that fit in the palm of your hand. Currently, Visby Medical offers FDA-cleared tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), available both in point-of-care settings and now directly to consumers at home, and respiratory infections (COVID-19 and flu), available for point-of-care settings. Visby Medical is actively expanding its platform with a wide range of future tests for the at-home and point-of-care markets.
