Summary of 5-Minute Test Tackles the Silent STD Epidemic You’ve Never Heard Of:
Washington State University researcher John Alderete has developed an affordable finger-prick test for Trichomonas vaginalis, a prevalent but underdiagnosed sexually transmitted infection. The test delivers results in just five minutes and costs under $20. Trich is easily curable with metronidazole but is often only diagnosed with symptoms. Current diagnostic methods have limitations, including the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel. Alderete’s test requires only a drop of blood to detect a specific antibody unique to Trich, making it more accessible and user-friendly. The trial aims to meet World Health Organization “ASSURED” standards for disease detection, hoping to benefit low-resource countries and curb the spread of the infection.
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New Finger-Prick Test Detects Trichomonas Vaginalis in Under Five Minutes for Under $20
The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is rising worldwide, and many of them, including Trichomonas vaginalis, is underdiagnosed. John Alderete, a researcher at Washington State University, has developed an affordable, quick, and user-friendly finger-prick diagnostic test to detect this common but neglected STI.
Trichomonas vaginalis, also known as Trich, causes no symptoms in about 70% of those infected, making it hard to diagnose unless symptoms are present. Even when asymptomatic, Trich can lead to severe health issues, such as increased susceptibility to HIV, male prostate cancer, and infertility and pregnancy complications in women.
The new diagnostic test developed by Alderete can detect a specific antibody unique to Trich and deliver results in just five minutes at less than $20. The trial aims to meet World Health Organization “ASSURED” standards for disease detection, making it accessible to low-resource countries and curbing the spread of the infection.
Trich is a worldwide problem affecting an estimated 156 million new cases each year, and it is suspected to be a contributing factor to HIV spread in countries like Africa. Pregnant women with persistent undiagnosed infections also face significant health risks, and Trich is associated with preterm membrane rupture, preterm birth, and low infant birth weight.
Alderete hopes to increase disease awareness to improve diagnosis rates, noting that Trich is the most common STI many people have never heard of. His finger-prick test can potentially help curb the spread of Trich worldwide and lead to the immediate treatment and cure of those infected.
Reference:
“Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Trichomonas vaginalis, the Most Prevalent, Non-Viral Sexually Transmitted Infection” by John F. Alderete and Hermes Chan, 3 January 2023, Pathogens.
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010077.
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