Syphilis and HIV Point‐Of‐Care Testing Pilot Project: Alberta Health Services’ Edmonton STI Clinic Public Health Outreach Team
Publication Summary
This report represents a summary of a pilot research project using point‐of‐care tests (POCT) to rapidly diagnose and provide immediate management for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It summarizes the experiences of the Public Health Outreach Team (PHOT) in delivering HIV and syphilis POCT from February 2011 until December 2012. It provides an overview of the training required to accommodate and initiate this POCT project, quality assurance details, challenges experienced throughout the study, and the implications for the future of offering HIV POCT in practice, outside of a research project setting.