Health-care professionals have a new tool in their battle against Canada's raging syphilis epidemic thanks in part to University of Alberta research. Health Canada recently approved a dual HIV-syphilis rapid test after a two-year clinical trial found it was 100 per cent accurate in identifying HIV infections and 98 per cent accurate for active syphilis.
"These extremely rapid point of care tests for the diagnosis of syphilis and HIV are much needed and a game changer for Canada," says infectious disease specialist and principal investigator Ameeta Singh, who is a clinical professor of medicine.
"We were able to save costs associated with an additional clinic visit, reducing the number of cases lost to followup, and prevent ongoing disease transmission."
