STI home screening kits ‘cashing in’ as infection rates soar

AUSTRALIA’S top medical watchdog will examine the rapid growth in companies promoting illegal at-home STI screening kits as infection rates soar.

Australian Medical Association President Michael Gannon says he is concerned various companies are attempting to profit on the boom in infections.

EXCLUSIVE

AUSTRALIA’S top medical watchdog will examine the rapid growth in companies promoting illegal at-home STI screening kits following a News Corp Australia investigation.

Various companies, who experts say are taking advantage of the rise of sexually transmitted infections in Australia, have been popping up trying to exploit the sexual health crisis.

And they could face penalties as the Therapeutic Goods Administration begins its inquiries following a News Corp Australia probe.

One company — Confidential Pathology — was to start widely distributing Australian-made at-home STI screening kits for four sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, from next week following a pilot sale of around 35 kits across Australia earlier this year.

STI Screen kits will test for the presence of four STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, from the privacy of your own home.

The dry swab kit promoted on the company’s website would cost users $49 and would be sent via Australia Post.

Swabs would be tested for the DNA presence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas and mycoplasma and users would receive their results within two to three days via a secure encrypted website and without any personal doctor interaction.

News Corp Australia has uncovered it is illegal to sell self-testing kits in Australia for notifiable diseases of which chlamydia and gonorrhoea both are.

Confidential Pathology last night shut down its website after being advised by News Corp Australia the sale of self-testing kits in Australia was illegal.

The TGA confirmed it was investigating multiple reports of illegal supply of self-testing STI kits in Australia.

The dry swab kit promoted on the company’s website would cost users $49 and would be sent via Australia Post.

“The TGA is investigating reports of illegal supply and promotion of self-tests and self-testing services for STIs in Australia, including the advertising of self-tests for STIs on Australian based websites and we will take regulatory action, depending on the outcomes of the investigations,” a spokeswoman for the TGA said.

“Depending on a case-by-case basis, regulatory action could range from warnings, fines, civil or criminal action including imprisonment.”

Chief Medical Adviser for the TGA, Tim Greenaway, said the concern about online test kits is that they bypassed the treatment and care of a health professional, which was the reason for not permitting such services in Australia.

The highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections combined are in the 15-24 year old age bracket.

“It is important for people to be tested and we certainly encourage this, but the involvement of a doctor or other health professional is imperative to ensure there is a proper medical follow-up for the health and wellbeing of people,” Professor Greenaway said.

The controversy comes as a report on Monday found STIs are massively on the rise in Australia. Experts say this is in part due to dating apps like Tinder and the increased acceptance of casual sex.

The Kirby Institute found a 63 per cent increase of gonorrhoea in Australia over the last five years, with 23,000 people diagnosed in 2016 alone.

Chlamydia was still the most commonly diagnosed STI in Australia, with an estimated 154,000 men and 100,000 women aged between 15 and 29 with new chlamydia infections in 2016.

Rebecca Guy, with the Sexual Health Program at the Kirby Institute said the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections combined were in the 15-24 year old age cohort.

“We’re experiencing the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea together in the past ten years,” associate professor Guy said.

Confidential Pathology CEO Peter French says he believes his company has complied with TGA regulations.

She said any STI testing should be provided free or low cost, particularly for youth and that self-test kits without health professional interaction with the patient could be of some concern.

Australian Medical Association President Michael Gannon said he was concerned various companies were attempting to take advantage of Australians at risk of STIs and profit on the boom in infections.

“We are concerned about this trade,” Dr Gannon said.

“Our system of infectious disease notification exists for a reason. These tests need to be interpreted and reflected to a patient by a trained medical professional and your local GP or sexual health clinic is the best place for that.”

Confidential Pathology CEO Peter French said he believed his company complied with TGA regulations but had not spoken with the watchdog directly despite already selling kits to the Australian public.

“We haven’t spoken to the TGA but we have reviewed the guidelines and we believe we comply,” he said.

Mr French said it was “unfair” to suggest his company was trying to profit off the rise in STIs in Australia.

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