Vending machines offering tests for sexually transmitted infections hold promise as a way to reach people with sexual health services, according to a study that comes on the heels of recent increases in STIs in both the U.S. and England. For the study, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, researchers analyzed data associated with nearly a dozen vending machines in two regions of England that were stocked with free kits to help detect chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Approximately 6% of the STI tests were positive for chlamydia, while 2.5% tested positive for gonorrhea, according to the study. A total of four samples tested positive for HIV, though they were from people already known to be HIV positive, and three tests came back positive for syphilis antibodies. Previous research suggests vending machines that offer self-tests for HIV can lead to increased uptake in testing among men who have sex with men, and the latest study adds to those findings.

---

Persons: “, what’s, ”, Aaron Glatt, Glatt Organizations: U.S, World Health Organization, The Washington Post, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America Locations: STIs, England, Black, U.S, Mount Sinai South Nassau, New York