STI Testing–What to Offer and How to Offer It

Key Factors in Decision Making

The number of cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI) around the world has been on the rise for years. Given the variability in screening and testing guidelines for treatable STIs, what should your lab be offering to clients? The answer, of course, depends on the patient populations being served.

This webinar will discuss for whom and under what circumstances to test for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium.

In addition to decisions about appropriate test menus, we will discuss acceptable sample types—including non-genital specimens—and sample collection methods, including remote sample collection. This discussion will also cover regulatory aspects that impact a lab’s ability to offer different types and levels of testing.

Learning Objectives

This webinar will help you:

• Explain how to determine whether Mycoplasma genitalium testing is appropriate for a patient according to CDC guidelines
• Identify when non-genital STI testing is appropriate
• Apply regulatory considerations when determining how to proceed (or why not to proceed) with offering remote sample collection for testing in your laboratory

Watch on Demand       Download Slides (PDF, 1.2MB)

Fisher Healthcare is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.™ Program. One P.A.C.E.™ credit-hour will be provided for this complimentary basic level program.

Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD, MPH

Dr. Barbara Van Der Pol is a professor of medicine and public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the director of the UAB STD Diagnostics Laboratory. For more than 40 years, she has been actively involved in the biology, epidemiology, and diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections. Her behavioral research focuses on delivery, utilization, and implementation of new diagnostic technologies. Van Der Pol currently serves as the president of the International Society for STD Research.

Obiageli (Oby) Okafor, MD, DrPH

Dr. Oby Okafor is a senior manager of medical and scientific affairs for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Genetic Solutions division. She works with global scientific communities to adapt and improve diagnostic products to meet unique clinical needs. Prior to this role Okafor served as a consultant with the World Health Organization for the Global Maternal Sepsis Study. As a clinician, she has specialized in providing care to patients in low-resourced settings. Okafor earned degrees from Harvard University and Khazar University in Baku, Azerbaijan.