STI Panel Test

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be caused by infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. It can also be transmitted through nonsexual modes such as from mother-to-infant during pregnancy, childbirth, blood transfusions, and through shared needles. In addition, people can pass STDs to their sexual partners without any symptoms to themselves. This can result in a lack of care seeking and appropriate treatment.

Current STI testing in an outpatient setting (often in genito-urinary clinics) relies on lab culture to identify infections and any drug resistance. This takes at least 48 hours. In the meantime, the patient is prescribed a first line antibiotic treatment.

However, increasingly the pathogens are resistant to these treatments. Therefore in a growing proportion of cases, the primary treatment will be ineffective and the patient will be recalled to receive a follow up consultation. This is where the treatment of STIs is significantly complicated by social stigma, economic, and behavioural factors.

Untreated or inappropriately treated STDs can lead to a range of secondary complications including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, complications in pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy or transmission of infection to a foetus), reproductive system cancers, enhanced transmission of HIV and epididymitis; each with a cost to the healthcare system. The emergence of drug resistant strains of STI such as gonorrhea is also causing considerable global concern.