CEimpact Podcast

OTC STI Kits Supporting Patients and Expanding Access to Care

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With sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates continuing to rise, over-the-counter testing kits are expanding access to care, and pharmacists are well-positioned to support their safe and effective use. This episode explores key facts about available OTC kits, regulatory updates, counseling responsibilities, and the potential for test-and-treat models in pharmacy practice. Join us to learn how pharmacists can contribute meaningfully to STI prevention and care.

HOST
Joshua Davis Kinsey, PharmD
VP, Education
CEimpact

GUEST
Elizabeth Skoy, PharmD
Professor
North Dakota State University

Joshua Davis Kinsey and Elizabeth Skoy have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
 
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CPE INFORMATION
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants should be able to:
1. Identify the types and regulatory status of over-the-counter STI testing kits available to patients.
2. Describe the pharmacist's role in educating patients on the use of OTC STI kits and recognizing potential opportunities to support follow-up care or treatment.

0.05 CEU/0.5 Hr
UAN: 0107-0000-25-270-H01-P
Initial release date: 8/4/2025
Expiration date: 8/4/2026
Additional CPE details can be found here.

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Speaker 1:

Hey CE Impact subscribers, Welcome to the Game Changers Clinical Conversations podcast. I'm your host, josh Kinsey, and as always, I'm excited about our conversation today. Sexually transmitted infection rates are climbing and access to timely testing remains a major barrier for many patients, making over-the-counter STI kits an important new tool in public health. In this episode, we'll explore what pharmacists need to know to support patient use, answer questions with confidence and help expand access to sexual health care. It's so great to have Elizabeth Skoy as our guest today, elizabeth welcome.

Speaker 2:

Thanks, josh, it's great to be here.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, great to have you. Thanks for taking time out of your summer break. As I always joke, as I remember as a faculty member, summer break was not really summer break, it was put your head down and get stuff done.

Speaker 1:

But thank you, I know you're very busy, so we appreciate it. Elizabeth has done a lot of work with us on lots of projects over the years, so we're just super excited to have you on a podcast. I haven't had you as a guest before, so, on that, go ahead and take a couple of minutes, elizabeth, to introduce yourself to our guest, for those that may not know you yet.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, thanks so much. So hello everyone. So I'm Elizabeth Skoy, I am a practicing community pharmacist and I also am a faculty member and professor at the North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy and then I also serve as the director for the Center for Collaboration and Advancement in Pharmacy. So you know, between my teaching, I teach in a skills laboratory, so I teach a lot of that hands-on. You know how to type, I teach a point-of-care testing elective and then, of course, you know work with pharmacies to implement point-of-care testing elective and then, of course, work with pharmacies to implement point-of-care testing, test-to-treat, providing education basically on pharmacy practice. And so, yeah, this is a really exciting topic and exciting time in the world of at-home testing devices, and so it's great to be here to talk with you guys about this.

Speaker 1:

Awesome. Thank you so much. Well, without further ado, let's go ahead and move into the content for today and let's talk. I always like to level the playing field. Just make sure that we all know what we're talking about. For today's episode, I gave the segue earlier, but let's just go ahead and specifically nail down what we mean when we say OTC, sti, kit, like what is out there, what are the purpose of these, and maybe even talk a little bit about collection, sample types and things like that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. When we're talking about the STI kit, right? So sexually transmitted infection is, you know, we think of STI, that's what that stands for. So we think of those tests. Up until recently we had a number of CLIA-waived tests that were available, and so they were. You know, these CLIA-waived tests that could be done in a doctor's office or even a potential in a pharmacy, in a pharmacy in certain situations where there was a sample collection, and then it's usually you know, that point-of-care test CL, clia waived where you get a result pretty rapidly.

Speaker 2:

There were a few kits out there that were maybe sold over the counter, but how that works is that they're actually not, you don't get the results right away. And so there were some kits that were for STIs that were available over the market that you know you kind of did the at-home sample collection and then you would mail in your results, and so there was probably the first I would say over-the-counter test that was available for detecting an STI was HIV. So that's been around for a little while where somebody could you know and that was through. Either you could do either an oral swab like an oral collection, or you could also do a blood collection for those. So that was one, and then more recently we have a couple of other tests that have come on the market for over-the-counter, and that is for syphilis.

Speaker 2:

And then there is one for females. It's only approved for females right now over-the-counter, but it's actually the first PCR test that was available over the counter, so that's kind of a new thing in itself. And then that is testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trigonitis all together. So those are kind of the main ones out there, and again, we've had the over-the-counter HIV for a while as well. So, yeah, I think this market is really expanding. I think there's been greater interest from some funders, like the NIH and things like that, to expand the types of tests that are available for public health and getting these tests to the public, and so it's a great time to see these coming available to patients so they can test at home.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah. And one thing that you mentioned, elizabeth, I want to go back to is you know, any previous ones may have been some sort of send off and you know the wait response and we know that that doesn't really make sense because, a you need to get treated pretty quickly to take care of things or they could, you know it could become pretty negative very quickly.

Speaker 1:

And, b if you are infected, you run the risk of continuing to infect others and you know without knowing so. So that is, that is something of concern. So the idea that these new tests are, you said, a rapid response, right, like they're pretty within just a few minutes or whatever- so, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So I think that's something to call out 10 to 30 minutes, depending upon the test.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so with the newer ones you mentioned too, what are the collection samples for those Like, what would the patients end up having to send off, or utilize.

Speaker 2:

So this is where I think you know this is really pretty great for pharmacy. So of course you know the blood sample and the oral you know for the HIV. But then we had for the test we also had the sample collection for syphilis, which is usually a finger prick blood sample. So that's how. So at home test is a blood sample, it's a finger prick. And then the more recent one, the PCR test for women for the three STIs that it tests for that is actually a vaginal sample collection and so you know that's probably you know, not something where pharmacy is going to be collecting that in the pharmacy, right?

Speaker 2:

And so you have, you know, some of these samples were like oral and blood. Pharmacies you know are equipped to do that sample collection for like a CLIA waived. But some of these other tests if you're doing like a urine or you're doing, you know, vaginal collection, those are usually those samples are usually taken either in a clinic or in a clinic setting. Not always, I don't want to say so. There's some pharmacies out there that might be doing this, so that's fantastic if you are equipped for that. But generally speaking, more in a clinic setting.

Speaker 2:

And then of course now you know it can be- for home collection.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah. So with that though and we'll get into this a little bit more but while we're talking kind of about the introduction of these to the market and so forth, reminding our pharmacists their role in this, there are some restrictions as to what we can and can't talk about and guide on and that kind of thing right. Like if there is a question about, oh, I don't understand this sample collection, or I don't understand this, like it's not, like they could open it on the counter and us actually do it for them, does that make sense?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, correct, so Does that make sense? Yeah, correct, so it gets a little. It gets a little. It can be confusing when you talk about at-home tests versus CLIA waive tests.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

So these tests have technically, you know, a CLIA waiver, but then once they've designated by for an at-home test in quotation marks at-home test, then they become actually regulated by the FDA, so they're no longer regulated by CLIA.

Speaker 1:

Yes, you took my question, thank you, I realized I didn't pose that question very well.

Speaker 2:

I didn't know. I thought that's maybe where you were going.

Speaker 1:

Exactly where I was going. You're answering it perfectly, so thank you so they're actually regulated by the FDA, not CLIA.

Speaker 2:

However, there's like this big, however, by the FDA, not CLIA. However, there's like this big, however, because we saw this a lot during the COVID pandemic right when once we, if we take as a pharmacy right, so if I take at-home test and I collect that sample for the patient, I then need to be operating under a CLIA waiver. It kind of comes back under CLIA if that makes sense, so I can instruct a patient how to do it themselves. But if I am doing any sample collection or if I'm actually interpreting the test for them, then per the you know, health and human services, they say well, that then goes and falls back under CLIA because I as a pharmacist and using my clinical expertise and it's kind of going away from that at home classification so yeah, yeah, so there are some.

Speaker 2:

So what we can do as a pharmacist is there's a lot we can do. So exciting, we can talk about this and I think that's why this is an exciting podcast for our viewers is that the first thing that we can do is we can you want to be recommending that test, because in certain ages of women and certain risk factors, even for men, there's annual screening is what's recommended. So if you have somewhere where you're actually recommending these for a patient, we should be knowledgeable about them so we can recommend them, we can show them where they are and then also answer questions for them about the test. All perfectly fine and that's then operating under the home. But then if, for some reason, we would want to go further down that path and we can talk later about, you know, test to treat opportunities and things like that, where we would actually be potentially, you know, working under collaborative practice agreement to prescribe that treatment, the antibiotics to treat those upon a positive result, then that, you know, is kind of a different, different scope.

Speaker 1:

Different scope yeah.

Speaker 2:

So you have to kind of understand the regulations. So you, you know what you know you should be doing under the home test.

Speaker 1:

Exactly. And you again, you read my mind, so thank you. I realized, I realized in the moment that it wasn't posed well, and then I thought, well, let me just see what she does with it. And you did it perfectly.

Speaker 2:

So thank you.

Speaker 1:

But one thing I want to point out again on that is my whole point was, if it does fall back on the whole CLIA thing, you'd have to be a CLIA-waived pharmacy. So if you're going to be doing that, if you're going to step in and be like, oh well, that's just a blood test, let me do that for you right here, then, boom, you have to be Cleo Wave Pharmacy. So that is what I was getting at was being sure that you're staying within the parameters and the lines of what you're allowed to do, based on the different types of certifications that you have at your store. So that was perfect, okay.

Speaker 1:

So on that, let's go ahead and dig into what are all those opportunities for pharmacists? So you mentioned we need to be in the know, we need to just, you know, be able to answer general questions, be able to guide about general sample collection, if we're not actually going to be the ones to do it. But let's talk about how, like what are these actual opportunities? So one of the first ones I want to touch on is let's talk about how it's expanding access and it's able to keep timely and discrete testing and, you know, trying to catch some of those patients who may not show up at the clinic, you know, at the blood drawn, and say, oh, I think I might have an STI, let me get tested, or whatever. So let's talk about that for just a little bit. The expanded access, the discrete, timely things like that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so you know, of course, we know the the pharmacists are the most and pharmacies are the most accessible. You know health care provider and you know opportunity that patients can have in the country and so just access in general.

Speaker 2:

you might have a patient who, depending on you, know where they are and you know how much transportation access they have they might not even be able to get to a clinic or like a public health site to get that testing done, and so if pharmacies can just have be a spot where they can get the tests, then that's just the first step Right, and so also I think that expanding that access also where it's a more of a discrete spot, there's been some qualitative studies that have been done where patients would actually prefer to pick up their test kits from a pharmacy because unfortunately and I don't agree with this, but unfortunately there is like a stigma associated with going to like a public health or a local public health or public health department, because they look at that as the place where you go to get tested or treated for a TI, and so people don't want to be seen going into those places or things like

Speaker 2:

that. And then also we know that especially this age range you know when you're looking at that, you know, you know later adolescent to you know mid-20s of females that need to have that annual testing done. Statistically not a lot of them have primary care providers and so where they're getting that, you know very regular updates and those check-ins to have those that test done. So just having that access available is just having it there where patients can access the test and then again do that in the privacy of their own home and getting those results and then acting upon those results, I think is one thing that pharmacy can definitely do.

Speaker 2:

and be, provided about that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, on that you bring up a good point I want to go back to I think you might've mentioned it, but let's reiterate these couple of new ones that are over the counter. What are the age recommendations on that? Who can they be sold to? I guess Are there any restrictions?

Speaker 2:

Sure, I don't believe I haven't actually read the full package insert of either of them. I don't think they necessarily. There isn't, like a you know, an age restriction of who they can be sold to, and so you know it's an over-the-counter product and so anyone can really purchase the product. But there is, depending upon individual's risk levels of you know, their own, you know sexual activity as well as ages, that will depend upon how frequently you know they should be screening. And then, as for the, again the more recent test, which was, and this was the first of its kind, which has actually opened up a pathway through the FDA for other similar tests to go to market more quickly, so we might see more. So at the time of this podcast, you know there's one on the market, but by the time you listen to this, who knows we might have, you know, numerous ones out there, yep, out there.

Speaker 2:

But Visby Medical was the first one to release the women's. You know three STIs the chlamydia gonorrhea and the trichomoniasis. So those are the three that are being tested under that PCR test. That's at home with the vaginal sample collection, that particular test actually. So it gives the positive or negative results, but it has an app that goes with it that talks the user through how to do the sample collection and how to operate the device, through how to do the sample collection and how to operate the device.

Speaker 2:

So that's also you know an interesting take on utilizing, you know, smartphones and tablets and technologies, and then actually it's the you know, through the company's website and the information that they provide, is that actually the app is the one that provides you with the results for each of those based off of that Yep.

Speaker 1:

So, interesting.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's an interesting take. And again, that PCR, a PCR test, that's available. But again, if you're ever with all these on the market too, at any time there's a point of care test or over the counter home test, always just read the information about the test. If the patient comes with questions, the same thing I always say with glucometers right, Like I don't, I don't have in my mind how to use every glucometer CGM on the market. I don't. But how many times have I been like well, let's take a look and let's open this up and let's talk through that. And you can definitely even under the at home testing you can do that with a patient. You can open it up and talk them through how to do the sample collection on their own.

Speaker 1:

And then have them do that.

Speaker 1:

Yep, and that's what you were saying earlier with that still quantifies as an at-home test. Unless you do the sample, then it brings it back under a CLIA waiver. So, yeah, right, so that's yeah, so great information. And so we talked about earlier. One of the key things for pharmacists is to be updated on the information. And you say one of the best ways to do that is to read the package insert. But in general, if we're going to go into more of the test and treat route, so let's say that we do have a CLIA waiver and we are doing test and treat, we do have the capabilities to do that, we have it in our workflow and that's what we're doing. What sort of, I guess, what sort of STIs should we be up to date on? Like, what are the ones that we should make sure that we understand, know you know certain treatments for, and things like that?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So I would say probably the you know more common ones that you're seeing right now are not more common, but just you know for treatment that you can do like a test to treat syphilis is a big one on the rise right now, or not more common, but just you know for treatment that you can do like a test to treat syphilis is a big one on the rise right now, same with chlamydia, gonorrhea, then trichomoniasis. So those are the you know, probably the main ones that are there for most of the CLIA wave tests and again, like for like hepatitis C or HIV or the adenine tests, for those, uh, they're more of a screening and so that's when you would need to, upon a positive, they'd actually need to have like a confirmatory a confirmatory test completed.

Speaker 2:

So that's not diagnostic. But the ones that I just mentioned, the previous ones, those are diagnostic and so kind of similar with which some pharmacies and states are doing with urinary tract infection, where you do not have to necessarily collect the sample for that. So right.

Speaker 2:

So, you can do a test to treat. Again, you would need the CLIA waiver under your pharmacy. So you need a CLIA waiver through your pharmacy that you can, you know, operate under CLIA. But if a patient comes in with a positive test from you know, again, we have pharmacies that have done this with urinary tract and they can do that also with, you know, syphilis or these other tests that I mentioned they come in with a positive result, then at that point, if you have a collaborative practice agreement that allows you to do so, you could prescribe an antibiotic for treatment for that. So that's, I think, really, where pharmacy can take it a step further. So, if nothing else, be aware of the tests that are out there, you know, on the shelf in your own pharmacy or in the OTC aisle, I should say, or see them in the product catalog. If you're ordering your own or recommend this for that, then just be aware of what they treat.

Speaker 2:

You know that they, the results, are instant. They are a diagnostic. They're going to give you a positive or negative result. And then what to do upon that positive. So some patients are going to, you know, go to their healthcare professionals. They're going to go to healthcare provider, their doctor or their clinic or whatever Some might call you. You know, hey, I got a positive, now what do I do? And if you have that CPA, you can prescribe or restate protocol or whatever it is in your state, if you allow for that right to be done. And then others, some of the companies are. Even one of the companies is piloting on their package like a telehealth option.

Speaker 2:

So that if you get a positive like on the box, you can pay for a telehealth consult to get that prescription. So I think you're going to see a different varieties. I think, it's going to depend upon what's most cost effective for the patient. What's if it's covered under insurance? Yeah, and so you know if they have a health savings account or you know a payment things like that, so it just depends upon what's going to be most beneficial for the patient minute to really think about it.

Speaker 1:

I would have thought about telehealth, but that's another way to for those, you know, for those who are looking for a discrete test, and then for looking for discrete treatment, because, you're right, there is a stigma about you know, going to public health for that, or you know being seen in your small town.

Speaker 1:

You know, oh, what are they going to say about me, and so yeah, so if you're looking for that still discrete treatment all the way through I love the idea that there's still a health option which just still allows you to get that treatment. Turn right back around, go to the pharmacy, get that filled and just you know where you purchase the test. So, yeah, all great stuff. I love it and I love the fact that you know again, with all of this we're helping to reduce some of the stigma, we're making things more accessible and we're normalizing, I hope, the ideas to normalize some of those conversations, some of those sexual health conversations with patients, and I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about here how on the rise a lot of it is in our elderly population, in assisted living homes and nursing homes. That is a place where STIs are on the rise and so you know, don't overlook that as being a place where testing needs to occur and treatment needs to occur.

Speaker 1:

So and discussions in general about it.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, yeah, and normalizing it, and I think you put a you know, I think even just in general, at-home testing has become normalized, like let's all think back to five years ago. You know, if you're listening to this, since 2025, but maybe you know but five, six years ago. You know, if you're listening to this since 2025, but maybe you know but five, six years ago how many, if we took a room, would raise their hand and say I've done an at-home test. Like nobody probably would right, we'd all just be like no, never done that. Okay, now, now let's raise our hands. I mean, who has not done an at-home COVID test ever since?

Speaker 1:

the pandemic.

Speaker 2:

So what happened after the pandemic? Is this just became so much more normalized? Is that people had never used one of these tests before. They had to open up and they're reading the insert and they're looking at the swab and they're, you know, reading the little pictogram and they're following the directions. Well, now people have done that, and so now it's oh well it's not so yeah it's easy, I can do that, so now it's not so.

Speaker 2:

Um, yeah, it's easy, I can do that, so now it's not so. Um, such a new concept, and so people have come onto that also. So has you know, like you said, the the convenience factor? We live in a world where we want to do things from the comfort of our home, whether it's shopping or whether that's instead of going out to a restaurant you're ordering you know the door dash or whatever it might be.

Speaker 2:

Uber Eats, and so we're getting that kind of that culture of doing things more from the privacy and comfort of your own home as well, and so this really just in general fits that patient demand.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely. And you know, some could counter, argue and say, oh, we're taking that role, that important role, away from you know, healthcare and testing you and whatever. But that's where we have to morph and change with that as well, where we have to step up and say okay, well, now our role is education and treatment, and that's where we really need to take that bigger step next, as the pharmacist, and making sure that we are setting ourselves up to do, you know, beyond the testing, but to do the actual discussions and counseling and then actual treatment options.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, yeah, and if you have I mean again, you know where this can even go in pharmacy. As we're talking about this, I'm thinking a really big thing pharmacies have been doing more as well across the country is oral contraceptive prescribing, and so this really fits in your. It's that age range typically females that we're prescribing oral contraceptives for that are coming to the pharmacy maybe because they don't have a primary care provider. And guess what, what a great opportunity for us to say, oh, by the way, just with your age, and if you are sexually active, you should have one of these every year and we sell them and I can answer questions for you, or maybe you have a handout in your pharmacy.

Speaker 2:

I, you know, in the one of the pharmacies that I used to work at, I used to have a handout every time I would. You know somebody would come in for certain types of medication. I would usually provide them with some education and then also give them just something to take home to read about, about that topic of an STI and how frequently to be tested and where they could be tested. That was way before, obviously the you know we have these great at-home tests now, so it's a good opportunity for us.

Speaker 1:

Great call-outs, yeah, great points. And you know, again, especially like, think about where you're located. Are you located where there's not a lot of access to public health or to clinics, or you know minute clinics or you know whatever. Or are you located in a college town or university town? Because, again, you know, we see with that population they typically don't have a PCP and so they're usually taking care of themselves. You know, like, oh, as it comes up, as whatever problem arises, they don't really, especially if they're away from home, they're certainly not going to have established care with a PCP, probably, you know, in a new city or state. So, yeah, all great points.

Speaker 1:

So now that we've kind of talked about the great opportunities, are there any challenges that you can think of? I mean, obviously we've also touched on some of the challenges keeping up to date with it, making sure that you understand the scope of practice in your state and whatever you know is allowed, and operating under CLIA waiver if needed, if that's the route you're going, and making sure that you have that and everything in line for that certification. What about any other negative or challenges that you can think of that we need to overcome in this space? I?

Speaker 2:

wouldn't say necessarily challenge, but I would just say to be aware. So different states have different regulations for reporting STIs to public health, and so if you do have. Especially if you're doing like a test to treat, right where someone's coming in with the positive and you have that test to treat, where then you can under a CPA protocol or whatever practice laws within your state you can prescribe a treatment for that STI, then you should also just make sure you know your state laws, that sometimes you do have to report these to public health and so also letting the patient know upon that that you will have to.

Speaker 2:

you know if you undergo this, that you'll have to be reporting it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

That's one thing. Oh, go on.

Speaker 1:

I was just going to say we don't have to talk about specifics because that would get into bias and everything. But have you heard about costs, like are these cost effective or are they fairly expensive?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I mean I was looking at some of the costs of them and again I think it just can it really depends and it varies for the because I also so behind the scenes for someone who does a lot of test to treat and point of care testing and working with pharmacies to get that up and running. I'm really familiar with the cost of some of these tests. Before they went home test and I was like, oh my gosh, how is anyone ever going to afford that?

Speaker 2:

But, they've actually been pretty, pretty reasonable. So for the blood test, for for the syphilis, for instance, over the counter I've seen somewhere around and again like I'm not price, but I'm just saying like if you probably google this.

Speaker 2:

You're probably gonna find about 30 ish dollars, which isn't bad and then as and then the visby medical that I've seen over the counter, it's like through their app it's about 150. So but if you think about that, you know if you have a patient that has, you know, maybe high deductible plan or you know, health spending account and that's not covered, and you know, for a lot of them it might be covered as a preventable. But if it's not, because it's a lab or whatever, that might be a much more economical and cost effective, even by going to the pharmacy and then getting a treatment it might be more economical than going in somewhere, although I will say too that a lot of public health departments do offer that testing for free.

Speaker 2:

So there again, just be aware that's another thing you can do as pharmacy. Just be kind of aware of the resources in your community, in your area. I know some states even, and even some college campuses will. They have numbers or contacts you can, and they'll get a test mailed to them for free through like grant funding or through the state funding as well. So if you ever have a patient that is interested and can't afford that, I would recommend to reach out to some of those, like a local public health or a state public health department, to see if there's any opportunities for that.

Speaker 1:

That's great and we always I feel like I always give a call out to our community health worker program and the fact that if you have a technician cross-trained as a CHW or a community health worker, you know they're going to know what the ins and outs are in the community, the opportunities, the different ways in which they can get a patient connected. So that's something else. Yeah, I you know. And also we were talking about pricing when doing comparisons. It also could be you know how much is someone willing to pay for the ease of it being on their time, like what if it's a Saturday evening? Or what if they're going out of town and they, you know they don't have time to go get lab done and then whatever. And so that whole buying the test and doing the telehealth and filling their prescription or, you know, doing it in-house with you, if you have a collaborative practice agreement to treat, you know it could, it could be worth it to them because, for whatever reason, you know timing and such. So yeah.

Speaker 1:

Okay, well, last thing before we wrap up. Well, next to the last thing, I'll ask you this and then I'll ask you the very last question. But before we do that, I know just from your expertise, I want to pick your brain on this. As you mentioned, you've been involved with getting test and treat stuff up and running and everything. You know one of the biggest pushbacks we always hear, and I totally get it.

Speaker 1:

I've been there, I've owned a store, I've worked in, you know, for other companies. I get it Timing, you know like I just I don't have time. I just don't have time. I don't have time to do this. Do you have any nuggets or any tips or tricks about how to work in these types of things, like if you, you know it'd be so easy to just see someone out there, they figured it out, they purchased it, whatever, just let them walk because they probably know what they wanted anyhow. But you know, how can we, how can we see those instances, take advantage of them and really, really make a time for that? Any kind of tips and tricks on that?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I would just say that, first of all, these are at-home tests, and so you're not doing the sample collection. And so that typically is what can, sometimes depending upon the type of test, but that can take time. The patient's you know information or you know whatever you know, intake forms or whatever like that that could be time to develop or patient educational materials. There have been actually it was actually not too long ago, but it was through the University of Pittsburgh and I had come across. I love toolkits, I'm a toolkit junkie Like I.

Speaker 2:

Just I absolutely love a good toolkit for pharmacy and we've done a lot within our center for helping pharmacies and toolkits and kind of giving everything they need. And so the National Association of County and City Health Officials actually did a collaboration with pharmacy on STI treatment and they actually have available a complete toolkit for pharmacies and so you can have like printable materials.

Speaker 2:

for some of these it's all publicly available because it was through a federal or federal grant and it was with the University of Pittsburgh as well, but testing and has educational materials. So it even has a patient intake form. So if that's something that's a lot of pharmacies. I've had get kind of hung up on that a little bit and I've worked with it's like oh well, how do I collect the information and how do I? Oh, like that, just seems really overwhelming, and it can be.

Speaker 2:

It can be really a lot, and so why recreate the wheel when there's some of these really great resources?

Speaker 2:

that are out there for you. So it's a tidbit, I would say, put that in the back of your pocket if you're ever interested in that. But also, as you mentioned too, of really relying on our partners of, like our community health worker or technicians of you know, getting that information, gathering that information and really after that, if you're just answering some questions for the patient which we do anyway and that's part of our normal workflow as well as you know prescribing the treatment and counseling on the medication.

Speaker 2:

It's really I would say it's not much more than a prescription you know a regular prescription and you're probably going to make more money on it. So to be honest with you, unfortunately, in the way that things are right now in the world of pharmacy and reimbursement.

Speaker 1:

Yep, no, totally makes sense. That's exactly what I wanted.

Speaker 2:

I love, I love the idea.

Speaker 1:

I'm also a nerd and a toolkit junkie so, like, anytime you can get like like, I still like to print things and no, it's not great for the, for the, you know, for everything, for environment, but I love to like hold something and like open up a package and get all my goodies and everything. So, yeah, I'm totally with you on that. I love that idea. So tell us again who the, the, the company, tell us again where that kit can come from.

Speaker 2:

Sorry, yeah. So the kit came from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, so that was the granting partner. And then it was from and maybe some of your listeners even here are familiar with that, but it was also from the University of Pittsburgh. School of Pharmacy was a collaborator on that and they have an article in the Journal of American Pharmacy Association on that toolkit development and some really great resources. So shout out to them for doing an excellent job on that and providing a resource to pharmacies.

Speaker 2:

I love it when people do great work and they share that with others.

Speaker 1:

I love that I love when, again, there's no reason, like if they took the time and created the wheel. I love when they share it because there's no reason for us to recreate it, so it's great, awesome, okay, well, final question. Now for sure, as I always like to ask our guests, the name of our podcast is Game Changers. So, elizabeth, what do you think the game changer is here? What's our overall take home point from today's episode?

Speaker 2:

I think the overall game changer is that our rising STI rates in the US are a public health concern and for the first time we have accurate at-home tests with immediate results for our patients to help increase access to treatment and increase access just to screening in general and prevention of spreading of disease. And I also think that it's another opportunity for pharmacy, who probably wasn't doing you know you're not going to be doing probably a vaginal sample collection in the pharmacy, but now we still have an opportunity for a test to treat now with this because we have an at-home test, so I think that's definitely a game changer for us.

Speaker 2:

Just one more way for us to help improve the lives of our patient and increase public health.

Speaker 1:

That's great. That's great. Well, thank you so much. We have time for today. Elizabeth, Thank you so much for spending your afternoon with us. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me. It's always a pleasure.

Speaker 1:

If you're a CE Plan subscriber, be sure to claim your CE credit for this episode of Game Changers by logging in at ceimpactcom. And, as always, have a great week and keep learning. I can't wait to dig into another game-changing topic with you all next week.