STI Diagnostic Innovations and At-Home Testing

In part 3 of this 7-part Special Report, the panel shifts to innovations in diagnostic testing, where Denise Heaney, PhD highlighted the concept of diagnostic stewardship as a natural complement to antimicrobial stewardship. With newly US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared assays and platforms—including at-home collection kits and point-of-care options—clinicians now have more tools to identify infections quickly and accurately while meeting patients where they are.

Kylee Johnson, MS, ARNP, reflected on how this shift is already reshaping women’s health. She noted parallels with HPV self-collection for cervical cancer screening, where some colleagues initially voiced concern about placing “too much power” in the hands of patients. Johnson emphasized that the reality is patients are demanding convenience, privacy, and faster access to care—especially women navigating emotionally charged diagnoses or pregnancy-related concerns.

The panel agreed that at-home and near-patient testing can reduce barriers, shorten time to treatment, and streamline partner management. Johnson stressed that while these innovations don’t remove the need for clinicians, they do require new workflows, particularly around follow-up care and integration of results into clinical practice. For women’s health providers, this evolution represents an opportunity to expand access, reduce stigma around testing, and build confidence in patients who increasingly expect digital tools, rapid results, and seamless care delivery.

Our Experts:

• Kylee Johnson, MS, APRN, is a women’s health nurse practitioner at Rocky Mountain Women’s Clinic.
• Brooke Redmond, MD, is an attending neonatal critical care physician at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. She is the creator and director of the 24/7 BABY program.
• Denise Heaney, PhD, is a senior scientific affairs manager in Diagnostics Information Solutions at Roche Diagnostics Corporation in Indianapolis.

Redmond and Johnson have no relevant disclosures to report. Relevant disclosures for Heaney include Roche.

References:

1. Hufstetler K, Llata E, Miele K, Quilter LAS. Clinical Updates in Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2024. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024;33(6):827-837. doi:10.1089/jwh.2024.0367

2. World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections. Published 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025.