Table 4 Screening tool for all stages: title, abstract, and full-text (go from steps 1 to 8)

1. Was this paper published after 1st January 2012?

 a. No, exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 2

2. Does this paper involve humans?

 a. No (animal or in vitro; lab-only diagnostics), exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 3

3. Is the paper in English? OR Is the paper in any European language AND from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland?

 a. No, exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 4

4. Is the paper reporting primary data?

 a. No (systematic reviews, guidelines, organisational reports, abstract booklets, mathematical modelling studies), exclude

 b. Yes, go on to step 5

5. Does this paper assess a genital and extra-genital (rectal and pharyngeal) sexually transmitted infection?

 a. No (other extra-genital, non-sexually transmitted infection – e.g. trachoma, congenital STIs like congenital syphilis or chlamydial conjunctivitis or pneumonia), exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 6

6. Does this paper focus on testing strategies or approaches for infections with C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, T. pallidum, M. genitalium or T. vaginalis?

 a. No (e.g. HIV, HCV, BV, HSV, etc. only), exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 7

7. Does this paper assess testing strategies or approaches to improve access to testing, testing coverage, or linkage to care?

 a. No, (e.g. descriptive epidemiology only, risk factor/association studies, laboratory diagnostic accuracy study, basic science leading to test development, prevention studies e.g. condom uptake, counselling, prep), exclude.

 b. Yes (e.g., service evaluations) or uncertain, go to step 8.

8. Does this paper assess testing strategies or approaches for initial diagnosis of the index case?

 a. No (e.g. studies on test of cure, partner notification, or retesting), exclude.

 b. Yes or uncertain, go to step 9

9. Does this paper assess testing strategies or approaches for complications of infection only?

 a. Yes (PID, tubal infertility, neurosyphilis, etc.), exclude.

 b. No or uncertain, go to step 10

10. Is this paper reporting on AMR testing only e.g. it does not include diagnosis of the infection itself?

 a. Yes, exclude

 b. No, include.