title: Analysis of direct-to-consumer marketed Chlamydia trachomatis diagnostic tests in Norway.
abstract: Background In 2014, and for the first time in Norway, a pharmacy chain started selling home sampling kits for Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) detection. Direct-to-consumer diagnostic kits for C. trachomatis have been available in Norway from an Internet company since 2005. There has been little assessment of persons who purchase direct-to-consumer diagnostic tests for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) detection and if low-risk populations are being unnecessarily encouraged to buy these tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of C. trachomatis in customers who purchased home sampling kits from the pharmacy chain and from the commercial Internet Co. were compared to that of patients attending STI clinics and other free primary healthcare services. Prevalences of other STIs in pharmacy and Internet customers were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of C. trachomatis among pharmacy customers was 11%, almost identical to the prevalence among Internet customers (12%). In comparison, the prevalence among patients attending STI clinics in Oslo was 7.2%, which is similar to the prevalence among patients who have been tested through primary healthcare services. The prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium was two-fold less than that of C. trachomatis in the STI and primary physician population, and significantly less in the Internet and the pharmacy population. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was not detected in urine samples from pharmacy customers or from Internet customers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both pharmacy and Internet C. trachomatis home-sampling kits seem to be purchased by the right risk population. Marketing of direct-to-consumer N. gonorrhoeae tests and possibly M. genitalium tests cannot be justified in Norway. Direct-to-consumer diagnostic tests should be actively utilised as part of national programs in preventing the spread of C. trachomatis.
authors.affiliation: Fürst Medisinsk Laboratorium, Søren Bulls vei 25, 1051 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinton
authors.affiliation: ProCelo AS, Sykehusveien 21, 9019 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Stig Ove
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hjelmevoll
authors.affiliation: ProCelo AS, Sykehusveien 21, 9019 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Håkon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Håheim
authors.affiliation: Boots Norge AS, Maridalsveien 323, 0872 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kjersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Garstad
authors.affiliation: Boots Norge AS, Maridalsveien 323, 0872 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lisa Therese
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Mørch-Reiersen
authors.affiliation: Fürst Medisinsk Laboratorium, Søren Bulls vei 25, 1051 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moghaddam