Can remote STI/HIV testing and eClinical Care be compatible with robust public health surveillance?

Abstract

In this paper we outline the current data capture systems for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually trans-mitted infection (STI) surveillance used by Public Health England (PHE), and how these will be affected by the in-troduction of novel testing platforms and changing patient pathways. We outline the Chlamydia Online Clinical Care Pathway (COCCP), developed as part of the Electronic Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (eSTI2) Consor-tium, which ensures that surveillance data continue to be routinely collected and transmitted to PHE. We conclude that both novel diagnostic testing platforms and established data capture systems must be adaptable to ensure continued robust public health surveillance.