World-First Portable Multi-Pathogen CRISPR Test Seeks to Improve STI Diagnostics
Doherty Institute researchers unveil an assay that identifies four STIs and antibiotic resistance in under an hour with up to 100% precision.
Researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia have developed a portable, point-of-care diagnostic tool capable of detecting four major sexually transmitted infections (STIs) simultaneously in under 60 minutes, according to a recent press release.
The device, a next-generation CRISPR-based diagnostic, identifies DNA and RNA for syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Notably, the test also detects a critical antibiotic-resistance marker in gonorrhea, providing a vital tool in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Closing the Diagnostic Gap
The clinical challenge of STIs often lies in their “mimicking” nature, meaning many infections present with nearly identical symptoms, such as genital sores, but require distinct treatment protocols. Without rapid testing, clinicians are often forced to treat based on symptoms alone, leading to potential misdiagnosis.
“Syphilis has long been known as the great mimicker. Correct treatment depends on correct diagnosis,” said Shivani Pasricha, PhD, laboratory head at the Doherty Institute and senior author of a related study published in The Lancet Microbe. “This novel tool enables accurate diagnosis and treatment immediately, without waiting days for laboratory testing or requiring multiple clinic visits.” (Photo credit: Doherty Institute)
Proven Precision
The device has undergone extensive validation, using 900 clinical samples—the largest set ever reported for a CRISPR-based point-of-care device.
“When benchmarked against gold-standard laboratory PCR, the rapid test showed 97–100% accuracy in correctly identifying negative results, a level of precision important for safe, evidence-based treatment decisions,” stated Matthew O’Neill, research support officer at the Doherty Institute and co-first author.
The researchers are now moving toward implementation trials, with a goal of integrating the device into routine clinical use within the next five years.
Recent US STI Statistics
While the Australian breakthrough offers a glimpse into the future of diagnostics, the latest provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2024 shows a landscape of progress and persistent challenges:
- Overall decline: The combined total of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases fell by 9% compared to 2023, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Despite this, the US still recorded over 2.2 million total infections in 2024.
- Syphilis trends:
- Primary and secondary syphilis: These highly infectious stages saw a significant 22% decrease from 2023.
- Congenital syphilis: In a distressing trend, cases of syphilis passed from mother to child increased for the 12th consecutive year, with nearly 4,000 cases reported in 2024. This represents a nearly 700% increase over the last decade.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea:
- Chlamydia cases dropped by 8% from 2023.
- Gonorrhea cases declined for the third year in a row, falling by 10%.
Long-term Perspective
While recent years show improvement, the overall STI burden remains 13% higher than it was a decade ago, highlighting the urgent need for the rapid, accessible diagnostic technologies currently being developed by teams like those at the Doherty Institute.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
—Janette Wider
