Pharmacy Daily | Chlamydia self-test approved

THE TGA has approved Australia's first self-test kit for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Developed by Touch Biotechnology, the kit will be available from pharmacies, distributors and online across the country in coming weeks.

It can produce a result on both infections from a single swab sample within 15 minutes, instead of one to three days at present.

With over 110,000 reported cases in 2023, chlamydia is the most reported communicable disease in Australia, however, it is often asymptomatic and may go undiagnosed.

Gonorrhoea presents as pain or discomfort in the throat, eyes, cervix and other areas, but may be mistaken for other infections.

"For women in particular, STIs such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia are major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility if they go undiagnosed and untreated," GM at Touch Biotechnology, Mazz Gencer said.

"These infections can also cause complications to pregnancy and birth because of the risk of mother-to-child transmission," he warned.

"That's why it's important for women to test for STIs when experiencing even the smallest of symptoms or are concerned about a partner's sexual activity," Gencer concluded.