This 3-year project, implemented in Kilifi and Nairobi Counties through a collaboration between Jhpiego, ICRH-K, NASCOP, and the two counties, funded by the Gates Foundation, is generating critical evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of introducing point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics for common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gonorrhea, trichomonas, and chlamydia,  within Kenya’s public health sector. The overall goal is to develop lessons that can inform the scale-up of diagnostic-led STI management, aiming to improve outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

Specifically, the study examines the role of PoC diagnostics in STI care, opportunities and challenges to integrating them into the patient management journey, and the performance of a new diagnostic product (Metrix by Aptitude), compared against gold-standard platforms such as GeneXpert and Hologic Aptima.

The project is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how PoC diagnostics can be integrated within routine service delivery. Our implementation approach includes formative assessment, laboratory validation, facility readiness assessment, field evaluation, and cost analysis to provide actionable recommendations that guide national and global policy and programming on STI care.