New Australian self-testing kit for syphilis ‘a game changer’
An Aussie company has developed a new self-testing kit for a sexually transmitted infection, which has been described as an “epidemic” across Australia.
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Exclusive: The Australian company behind a groundbreaking HIV self-testing kit hopes that a new DIY syphilis test will be a “game changer” in the fight against the sexually transmitted infection.
Following the success of their HIV kit, Sydney firm Atomo Diagnostics are developing a home syphilis test after receiving $2.5 million in federal government funding.
Cases of syphilis, a highly infectious sexually transmissible infection that can cause serious health problems if untreated, have boomed across Australia with more than 5500 cases reported in 2024.
It’s been described as an “epidemic” by Professor Paul Kelly, Head of the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control.
The TGA-approved Atomo HIV self-testing kit, which is available in some Australian pharmacies as well as online and costs around $25, has an accuracy rate of 99.6 per cent and provides the user with a result in ten minutes.
The HIV tests are also available for free in vending machines at universities in Queensland and South Australia, with plans for a national rollout.
In the UK and Europe, the Atomo HIV self-testing kits are widely available in supermarkets, including Tesco, and chemists.
The concept is similar to that of a Covid-19 rapid antigen test, only this test works by the user pricking their finger to get a blood sample.
The new syphilis self-testing kit will be a separate device to the one for HIV, but will be packaged in the same box.
The company is of the mindset that the self-testing kits are a critical tool to improve accessibility, support early intervention and reduce stigma.
“It’s not something that needs to be done in a dark backroom with shame attached to it,” Atomo Diagnostics CEO John Kelly said.
It is hoped the syphilis kit, once approved, will also be made available in vending machines in universities and nightclubs.
“The syphilis self-test is still in development but we’re in the process of moving into clinical trials to support the registration of the test here in Australia and also in Europe,” Mr Kelly said.
“There’s a lot of stigma still around sexual health — people don’t want to go to their local doctor.
“And that’s why a lot of people aren’t testing who need to test.
“The beauty of these self-test programs is that it provides a level of access and a level of anonymity that people are much more comfortable with.
“As a result, we’re seeing a lot of people testing who have never tested before or haven’t tested recently.”
Syphilis is spread by having unprotected sex or from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth, which is known as congenital syphilis.
Research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has revealed syphilis cases in Australia are diagnosed mainly in men who have sex with men in urban areas, or young First Nations people in remote regions.
Recent studies have also shown an increase in cases among non-Indigenous women of a reproductive age in urban areas, the Institute found.
Dr Sara Whitburn, the medical director of Sexual Health Victoria, said the rise in syphilis was partly due to people using condoms less because of a lack of sexual health information and education.
“Syphilis is on the rise because sexually transmitted infections are on the rise,” Dr Whitburn said.
“This is due to people being more sexually active since COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as being able to access health services so overall there is increased testing and diagnosing.
“We are also testing more frequently during antenatal screening as we want to decrease the risk of congenital syphilis which also increases diagnosis of syphilis in women.”
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