Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42911975›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

PREnatal Syphilis point-of-care ScreenING in an urban low-barrier clinic (PRESSING) study: Protocol for a prospective single arm feasibility trial.

Njideka Sanya, Mary-Elizabeth Vaccaro, Medora Uppal, Sarah Glen, Chelsea Kirkby, Tehreem Zafar, Janet Gasparelli, Kate MacNeil, Stephanie Milliken, Jeffrey Pernica and 10 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06829602 (PREnatal Syphilis Point-of-care ScreenING in an Urban Low-barrier Clinic), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06829602 narecruitingnot on this map

PREnatal Syphilis Point-of-care ScreenING in an Urban Low-barrier Clinic: A Prospective Single Arm Feasibility Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorMcMaster UniversityRan2025 to 2026Enrolled77ConditionsSyphilisArmsRapid Syphilis/HIV point-of-care test
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Njideka SanyaDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5950-0193
Mary-Elizabeth VaccaroDepartment of Social Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Medora UppalYWCA Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Sarah GlenYWCA Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Chelsea KirkbyYWCA Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Tehreem ZafarYWCA Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Janet GasparelliDe dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Kate MacNeilDe dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Stephanie MillikenDepartment of Social Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Jeffrey PernicaDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4380-5402
Jacqueline WongDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Donald Brody DuncanDepartment of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Marek SmiejaDepartment of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Amanda RamdyalDepartment of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Robin LennoxDepartment of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Tim O'SheaDepartment of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Anna CvetkovicDepartment of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Lawrence MbuagbawDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Suzanne TurnerDepartment of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Laura ErdmanDepartment of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSyphilis has resurged across North America, including syphilis in pregnancy. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by timely treatment of syphilis in pregnancy, but conventional syphilis screening is problematic for people facing barriers to care. Syphilis point-of-care tests (POCT) have improved prenatal syphilis management in low- and middle-income countries. There is minimal literature regarding POCT feasibility and effectiveness for prenatal syphilis screening in high-income countries, where barriers and challenges may differ.

methodsAcademic and community partners co-designed a prospective single-arm feasibility trial to evaluate syphilis POCT implementation at a low-barrier prenatal clinic in Hamilton, Canada. The INSTI HIV/syphilis POCT was integrated into routine clinical care for pregnant people with ≥1 risk factor for syphilis (unstable housing in the past year; substance use or accessing addictions services in the past year; > 1 sexual partner in the past year; history of sexually transmitted or blood-borne infection; presentation to care >20 weeks gestation). Sexual partners of newly diagnosed pregnant people are also offered POCT. Individuals offered POCT are invited to enroll in the study. The primary feasibility outcome is the proportion of pregnant participants who accept POCT at first offer. Secondary feasibility outcomes include valid POCT results on clinician's first attempt and accurate POCT interpretation by clinicians. Secondary clinical outcomes include time to treatment initiation and completion of treatment among syphilis-positive participants. To promote inclusion of groups facing structural barriers to research, individuals declining study participation are enrolled for limited prospective chart review (primary feasibility outcome only). Target enrollment is N = 62 pregnant participants over 18 months. Baseline participant characteristics and outcomes will be descriptively analyzed. Community-based knowledge mobilization is ongoing.

conclusionThis pilot study will generate novel feasibility data regarding prenatal syphilis screening with POCT in high-income countries and inform design of a multicenter implementation trial.

trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT06829602; February 17, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06829602.

Indexed as

Point-of-Care TestingPregnancy Complications, InfectiousSyphilisCanadaFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansPoint-of-Care SystemsPregnancyProspective StudiesRapid Diagnostic Tests

Identifiers

PMID42911975
PMCPMC13690238

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.