Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in U.S. Public Health Laboratories in 2004

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Abstract
Appropriate laboratory testing practices are a critical part of sexually transmitted disease (STD) control. The goal of this study was to describe the type and volume of STD tests performed in public health laboratories in the United States in 2004. A web-based survey was made available to 144 members of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. One hundred fourteen laboratories responded (79%). Overall, 3,553,196 chlamydia tests and 3,461,151 gonorrhea tests were performed; 64.4% of chlamydia tests and 60.8% of gonorrhea tests were nucleic acid amplification tests. Ninety-four percent of laboratories performed syphilis testing. Few laboratories used type-specific tests for herpes simplex virus or used new tests for trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, or human papillomavirus. This survey collected important data that can be used to monitor trends in STD testing practices in public health laboratories.