COVID-19 Updates from Public Health

STD Toolkit

A Health Professional's and Community's Guide

Laboratory Diagnostics

Etiologic Agent	Common Syndromes	Rapid Diagnostics	Definitive Diagnostics
Chlamydia trachomatis	Urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, PID, NGU asymptomatic screening recommended	Gram stain (to determine presence of inflammation), urine leukocyte esterase can be helpful to look for presence of inflammation	Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs-cervical, urethral, or vaginal swabs or urine) Cervical/intraurethral swab for culture, DNA probe, EIA, direct FA slide
Neiserria gonorrhoeae	cervicitis, proctitis, PID asymptomatic screening recommended	Gram stain	Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs-cervical, urethral, or vaginal swabs or urine) Cervical/intraurethral swab for culture, DNA probe
Trichomonas vaginalis	Vaginitis, urethritis	Rapid antigen detection test, Saline wet prep	Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs - cervical, urethral, or vaginal swabs or urine) OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test Saline wet-prep is definitive if positive; culture to increase sensitivity
Candida albicans, other Candida sp.	Vaginitis, balanitis	10% KOH prep; Gram stain	Rapid test is definitive if positive; culture to increase sensitivity
Bacterial vaginosis,anaerobic bacteria	Malodorous vaginal discharge with or w/o pruritis	Saline wet prep, whiff test, and vaginal pH; Gram stain	Rapid tests are definitive; culture for Gardnerella and anaerobes or gas liquid chromatography increases sensitivity
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)	Genital ulcer	None	Ulcer; direct FA slide; culture; EIA; PCR; serological tests: Western blot, EIA (glycoprotein gG1/gG2 type-specific antibody test)
Treponema pallidum (syphilis)	Genital ulcer	Ulcer; serological test; RPR, treponemal rapid EIA available, darkfield microscopy	Ulcer; DFA-TP; serological tests: RPR, VDRL, USR, ART, (non-treponemal tests); FTA-ABS, MHA-TP (treponemal tests); TP-PA, darkfield is definitive if positive
Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies)	Dermatitis, ulcers	Mineral oil wet prep	Skin scraping of burrow is definitive
Phthirus pubis (pubic lice)	Dermatitis	Dry mount, observation of nits or lice	Detection of eggs, nits, or louse is definitive
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)	Genital warts (condylomata acuminate)	None; observation of lesions	Pap smear; HPV PCR
Hepatitis virus: (A,B,C)	hepatitis	None for hep A or hep B; rapid test for hep C available	Serological test for specific antibody: HBV, HCV
HIV	Variable	Rapid HIV Antibody Tests	HIV antibody screening test with confirmatory western blot for positives or immune-fluorescence assay

For information on local lab capacity and testing availability:

This diagnostics summary is for educational purposes only. The individual clinician is in the best position to determine which tests are most appropriate for a particular patient.