Wisp, a telehealth company focused on women’s health, has launched a partnership with Visby Medical to enhance access to the latter’s FDA-authorized at-home polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The announcement was made on Thursday.
Based in New York, Wisp specializes in direct-to-consumer healthcare, offering treatments for various sexual and reproductive health needs, including birth control, fertility, menopause, and STIs.
Visby Medical’s PCR test, designed for women’s sexual health, is compact and palm-sized, delivering results within 30 minutes through the company’s mobile application. The test screens for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis using a single swab. Priced at $149.99, it is eligible for reimbursement through flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts, and has received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Under this new partnership, individuals receiving a positive test result from Visby will be referred to Wisp for follow-up care at no additional cost. Patients will have access to a virtual consultation with a Wisp provider, who can prescribe antibiotics if necessary, with prescriptions shipped directly to their homes.
Adam de la Zerda, CEO and founder of Visby, highlighted that the partnership with Wisp makes their testing more actionable. “Wisp provides a strong and established telehealth platform focused on women’s health, with the capability to deliver rapid, discreet, and clinically sound follow-up care,” de la Zerda stated. “The value of a test lies in what happens next, and Wisp ensures that patients can quickly speak with a licensed provider and access treatment without unnecessary delays or barriers.”
Currently, over one million curable STIs are contracted daily worldwide among individuals aged 15 to 49, with most cases showing no symptoms. If left untreated, these infections can lead to long-term health issues. In the United States, complications from untreated STIs are linked to nearly 100,000 cases of infertility among women each year.
The collaboration aims to “bridge the gap between testing and treatment,” according to Monica Cepak, CEO of Wisp. “Patients often face delays, friction, or drop-offs after being tested,” she noted in an email. “This partnership aims to create a seamless end-to-end experience from diagnosis to care, all from home. The long-term focus is on expanding access, reducing untreated infections, and establishing a new standard in sexual healthcare delivery.”
Other digital health companies focused on women’s health include Visana Health and Hello Alpha, while testing providers such as Evvy and myLab Box also operate in the space.
Photo: métamorworks, Getty Images
