Testmate Health, a leader in at-home testing solutions, has announced securing a significant $6 million in seed funding to propel the development of an unprecedented over-the-counter (OTC) self-test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Spearheaded by founder and CEO Dr. Siew-Veena Sahi, M.D., Testmate Health aims to revolutionize STI testing, starting with chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most prevalent notifiable infections in the United States.
Traditional STI tests often require in-clinic office visits, leading to prolonged wait times for results. Testmate Health’s breakthrough urine test promises to deliver lab-quality results within the comfort of one’s home, in under 30 minutes, thus obliterating the barriers of inconvenience and time associated with conventional testing methods.
Dr. Siew-Veena Sahi’s prior research at the esteemed World Health Organization highlighted the scarcity of affordable and accurate STI tests. This insight catalyzed the development of Testmate’s pioneering urine-based DNA platform detection technology, which forms the bedrock of their innovative testing solution.
The seed funding, led by RH Capital and supplemented by notable contributors such as The Helm, Zürcher Kantonal Bank, Amboy Street Ventures, Lichtsteiner Foundation, and Dartlabs.io, positions Testmate Health to expedite product development and market validation. Dr. Sahi expressed her vision, stating, “We want to help end the silent epidemic of sexually transmitted infections for chlamydia and gonorrhea.” She emphasized Testmate’s commitment to empowering individuals with accessible, accurate, and user-friendly self-testing solutions.
Elizabeth Bailey, lead investor from RH Capital, underscored the significance of Testmate’s approach, stating, “We believe Testmate’s approach to at-home STI testing addresses a critical healthcare need to improve access to essential diagnostics while ensuring the highest standards of accuracy and privacy.”
In the United States, where 1 in 5 individuals is affected by an STI and a staggering 85% of these infections manifest asymptomatically, the need for accessible testing solutions is paramount. Left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to infertility, chronic pain, and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Testmate’s proprietary STI self-test aims to fill this critical gap, with the ambition to make at-home STI testing as commonplace as a pregnancy test.
Testmate Health, founded in 2021, comprises a team of experts dedicated to sexual health and diagnostics. Dr. Siew-Veena Sahi, with her groundbreaking mission to eradicate STIs through the world’s first rapid, urine-based at-home STI test, stands at the forefront of this innovative endeavor. Her accolades, including recognition from the prestigious IMD and awards from the W.A. de Vigier Foundation and Venture Leaders Medtech, underscore her commitment to advancing public health.
