Sexually transmitted infections
With 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea in 2021, STDs continued to increase during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with no signs of slowing, according to the data reported to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (as of July 7, 2022).
- STIs have a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health and can have serious consequences beyond the immediate impact of the infection itself.
- STIs like herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis can increase the risk of HIV acquisition.
- Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women.
- Mother-to-child transmission of STIs can have serious negative impact on a newborn’s health.
- HPV infection causes cervical and other cancers.
- Hepatitis B infection can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Herpes simplex virus and syphilis are the major causes of genital ulcer disease (GUD).
Prevention, diagnoses and treatment for STIs is available.
STIs are often asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they can be non-specific. Accurate diagnostic tests for STIs using molecular technology are available and these are especially useful for the diagnosis of asymptomatic infections.
Om Diagnostic Labs STI panel
- Results within 24 hours of sample receipt
- Identifies pathogens that are hard to culture
- Multiple sample types can be used
- Greater than 95% sensitivity and specificity
Both urine and swab sample types can be used for the Sexually transmitted PCR (molecular) test.
Urine STI:
- Trichomonas Vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trochomatis
Urine STI Plus:
- Trichomonas Vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trochomatis, Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas
Swab STI:
- Trichomonas Vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trochomatis
Swab STI Plus:
- Trichomonas Vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trochomatis, Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas
Genital Ulcer:
- The majority of genital ulcers are caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), although there are noninfectious etiologies that should be considered once STIs have been ruled out. In the United States, the most common cause of genital ulcer disease (GUD) is herpes simplex virus, followed by syphilis. Other sexually transmitted pathogens causing genital ulcers are less common in the United States but may be more prevalent in other parts of the world. The presence of genital ulcers is a risk factor for the transmission of HIV.
CDC recommends all genital, anal, or perianal ulcers be evaluated for syphilis and herpes type 1 and 2 using serology and molecular testing. In settings where chancroid is prevalent, a molecular test for Hemophilus ducreyi should be performed.
Swab Genital Ulcer:
- Herpes simplex 1&2, Haemophilus ducreyi and Treponema pallidum