Melbourne Researchers Develop Rapid Test for Multiple STIs
04 Mar 2026
The device, described as a ‘world-first’ by the Doherty Institute team, tests for syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes, and chlamydia using urine or swab samples.
A study published in The Lancet Microbe says the test is highly accurate and could make STI testing faster and easier, especially in areas with limited medical services. The technology uses CRISPR-based diagnostics and has been validated with 900 clinical samples, showing 97–100% accuracy in identifying negative results.
The test will now go through implementation trials, with researchers hoping it could be used in routine clinical care within five years. It may also allow for more self-collected samples, making testing more accessible.
This comes as STI rates rise across Australia. In 2024, nearly 6,000 syphilis cases and more than 44,200 gonorrhoea cases were reported—more than double the numbers from 2014. In August 2025, syphilis was declared a ‘communicable disease of national significance’.
Dr Sara Whitburn, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Sexual Health Medicine, said new testing models are welcome. “Tests that can diagnose a range of STIs are also a bonus, as people can come into contact with multiple infections,” she told newsGP. She added that further studies and trials in GP clinics are needed before the device can be widely used.
Dr Shivani Pasricha, the study’s senior author, said the test could be particularly valuable for regional and remote communities, where STI rates are often higher and diagnosis can be delayed.
Source: newsGP
