Can Home Testing Stop the Resurgence of Syphilis?

Can Home Testing Stop the Resurgence of Syphilis?

The U.S. experienced a 52% increase in syphilis cases between 2016 and 2020, and pandemic-era restrictions on visits to sexual-health clinics mean the true increase is probably higher. Inspired by the success of home testing for COVID-19, experts hope that DIY syphilis tests can help stem the tide. Testing at home has many advantages — it’s anonymous, private and stigma-free — but it can also be pricey, and the onus is on patients to report their status and do their own contact tracing. Still, society is better off with at-home tests than without them, said Jen Hecht of Springboard HealthLab in California. (Source: Nature)