{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]],"date-time":"2026-03-29T13:47:00Z","timestamp":1774792020180,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"CSIRO Publishing","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]],"date-time":"2026-03-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774742400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1071\/journalslicense"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>MyCheck is an e-testing pathway, first implemented at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, which enhances access to STI\/HIV testing via telehealth and off-site sample collection; thus, reducing clinic visits. This study evaluates MyCheck\u2019s direct and indirect costs versus standard in-person screening (Xpress).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A 12-month bottom-up cost analysis from a societal perspective compared MyCheck and Xpress. Direct medical (health system), direct non-medical (patient travel) and indirect non-medical (productivity) costs were calculated using retrospective Sydney Sexual Health Centre data. Costs included pathology, staff time, overheads, consumables, patient travel and forgone productivity. Statewide scale-up costs were estimated, with sensitivity analyses adjusting for inflation, minimum wage and an increase in the proportion of MyCheck users with productivity loss.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>From January to July 2023, Sydney Sexual Health Centre conducted 2548 screening episodes (45% MyCheck, 55% Xpress), with MyCheck attracting more men who have sex with men\/transgender and gender diverse patients. MyCheck\u2019s shorter appointments (median 5\u00a0min vs Xpress\u2019s 15\u00a0min) led to lower staff costs (A$5 vs A$16). MyCheck had higher overall health system cost (A$127\/patient) compared with Xpress (A$91\/patient), mostly due to pathology costs. However, considering patient travel cost and productivity loss for Xpress, MyCheck\u2019s societal cost (A$137) was lower than Xpress (A$146), yielding A$104,260 annual savings. Statewide scale-up provides significant societal savings (A$419,077\/year).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This analysis of MyCheck\u2019s direct and indirect costs compared with traditional in-person screening demonstrates significant societal savings, despite higher direct pathology costs. It underscores the importance of a broader societal perspective in cost analyses. Lowering private pathology costs could further enhance MyCheck\u2019s cost-effectiveness. MyCheck, an innovative e-screening pathway, reduces barriers for STI\/blood-borne virus screening by improving patient convenience and reduced opportunity costs. Despite higher direct pathology costs, its societal cost savings support statewide scale-up for improved screening accessibility.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1071\/sh25107","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,29]],"date-time":"2026-03-29T13:02:52Z","timestamp":1774789372000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["E-screening for sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses in New South Wales, Australia: a cost analysis"],"prefix":"10.1071","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4043-1895","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Arthur","family":"Wong","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ASydney Sexual Health Centre, Sexual Health & Bloodborne Viruses Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia."},{"name":"BKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Frances","family":"Turner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASydney Sexual Health Centre, Sexual Health & Bloodborne Viruses Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Houghton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASydney Sexual Health Centre, Sexual Health & Bloodborne Viruses Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0402-0506","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Rick","family":"Varma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASydney Sexual Health Centre, Sexual Health & Bloodborne Viruses Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia."},{"name":"BKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hteinn Linn","family":"Aung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Arun","family":"Menon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CTownsville Sexual Health Clinic, Townsville, Qld, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Charlotte","family":"Bell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DAdelaide Sexual Health Clinic, Adelaide, SA, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Caroline","family":"Watts","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"BKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia."}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"67","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026032909024646700_R1","unstructured":"Centre for Population Health. 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