Devices and methods for nucleic acid extraction-free sti pathogen testing

A method for extraction-free analysis of nucleic acid, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a sample comprising a mucosal membrane swab sample and/or a bodily fluid sample from a subject;
• contacting the sample with a buffer composition comprising nuclease-free water, an antifungal, an antibiotic, and a ribonuclease inhibitor;
• directly amplifying nucleic acid from the sample in said buffer with primers specific to one or more target nucleic acids of one or more sexually transmitted pathogens without prior extraction of said nucleic acid;
• and
• analyzing amplicons produced in said amplifying step to detect one or more sexually transmitted pathogens in the subject.