Liaison xl

Clients were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct; including lymphogranuloma venereum [LGV] in case anorectal Ct was found), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng), and syphilis. Urethral Gram stain analysis was performed only in male patients with urogenital signs or symptoms (discharge, painful and/or frequent urination). In those with more than 10 polymorph nucleated leucocytes per high-power field in a urethral Gram-stained smear and no infection with Ct and Ng, a definitive diagnosis of nonspecific urethritis (NSU) was made.^{19 (link)} All MSM who had not previously tested HIV positive were tested for HIV unless they actively opted out.
Urine and pharyngeal and rectal specimens were tested for both Ct and Ng using the Aptima Combo 2 assay (Hologic, Marlborough, MA). In asymptomatic MSM, both urine and rectal specimens were self-collected, whereas in symptomatic MSM, medical staff collected rectal specimens. Medical staff collected pharyngeal specimens in all MSM. HIV antibodies were tested using a rapid HIV test (Alere Determine HIV-1/2 antibody test; Medical Co., Ltd.; Chiba, Japan) and the HIV Ab/Ag test (LIAISON XL; Diasorin, Saluggia, Italy), and syphilis serology was performed using the Treponema Screen (LIAISON XL; Diasorin). All bacterial STI diagnoses were based on laboratory outcomes of the STI consultation in which the chemsex questions were asked.

Thyroid function tests were measured with an automated direct chemiluminescent method (Advia Centaur XP, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Munich, Germany; normal range: TSH 0.55 to 4.78 µIU/mL, free T4 0.89 to 1.76 ng/dL, and total triiodothyronine [T3] 60 to 181 ng/dL). Thyroid autoantibody assays were also performed by an automated chemiluminescent method (Liaison XL, DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy; normal range: TRAb 0 to 1.75 IU/L, TPOAb 0 to 60 U/mL, and TgAb 0 to 100 IU/mL).
TRAb, TPOAb, and TgAb were measured at the initial diagnosis and at the time of ATD withdrawal.