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Background: To determine feasibility of providing STI services from a mobile health van, free screening was provided twice at an annual public event.
Methods: During Year 1, women, ≥ 14 yr. were offered OSOM® Rapid Trichomonas Test (TV) (Sekisui Diagnostics, Lexington, MA); APTIMA Combo2 (Hologic, Bedford, MA) for chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) using self-collected vaginal swabs; and syphilis Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR). During Year 2, services were expanded for women to include Xpert® CT/NG (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA), and to include men, ≥ 14 yr. Men were offered Xpert® CT/NG using urine, standard APTIMA CT/GC using self-collected penile swabs, and RPR. OSOM and all Xpert® tests were completed on the van, providing immediate results. Standard tests (APTIMA and RPR) had a two-week turn-around time. Successful follow-up included contacting, educating, and treating participants with positive rapid/standard results. Rapid Xpert® CT/GC results were confirmed with APTIMA.
Results: In Year 1, 17 women chose screening; 16 consented to research. Sixteen chose TV; 1 (6.3%) was positive. Fifteen chose APTIMA CT/GC; 2 (13.3%) were positive for CT; 1 (6.6%) was positive for GC. Fifteen chose RPR; none were positive. Follow-up was successful except for one woman with CT. In Year 2, 17 women (15 consented for research) and 11 men (all consented) chose screening. Fifteen women chose TV; 3 (20%) were positive. Two chose only standard CT/GC; none were positive. Twelve chose Xpert® CT/NG; 2 (16.7%) were positive for CT; 0 GC positive. Twelve chose RPR; no positives. Among men, one chose standard CT/GC, 10 chose Xpert® CT/NG, 9 chose RPR. None were positive. Follow-up was successful for all participants. Confirmatory APTIMA and Xpert® CT/NG results were identical.
Conclusions: Men and women will seek STI services on mobile health vans at public events. Rapid tests facilitate successful immediate treatment of positive STI results.