STD Testing Blog

Rachel Uchitel, Tiger Woods’ mistress, has reportedly planned to do some testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Uchitel apparently told her friends that she planned on testing after multiple women, including a few porn actresses, claimed they had also had relations with Woods.

Uchitel’s decision to get tested is a smart one indeed. By having sex with Tiger, who supposedly has had unprotected sex with many different women throughout his marriage, Uchitel potentially exposed herself to several possible infections.

Several of Woods’ extramarital affairs have been exposed following his car crash last week, however no comments have been made as to whether his wife, model Elin Nordegren, will have any STD testing done.

All in all, it is probably a good idea for all of Tiger’s partners to get tested at some point following these allegations. Affairs are obviously something that people would rather keep private, but if you are at higher risk like these women for contracting an STD it is better to be safe than sorry.

*For the complete article, please visit http://stdtestingblog.com/original-articles/

Test Overview

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test is a blood test that looks for proteins (antibodies) or genetic material (RNA) of the virus that causes hepatitis C. These proteins will be present in your blood if you have a hepatitis C infection now or have had one in the past. It is important to identify the type of hepatitis virus causing the infection, to prevent its spread and start the proper treatment.

HCV is spread through infected blood.

• Anti-HCV antibody tests look for antibodies to HCV in the blood, indicating an HCV infection has occurred. This test cannot tell the difference between an acute or long-term infection. The enzyme immunoassay (EIA) may be the first test done to detect anti-HCV antibodies.
• HCV RIBA is an additional test that detects antibodies to HCV. This test can tell whether a positive result was caused by an actual HCV infection or whether the result was a false-positive. This test may be done to double-check a positive EIA test result.
• HCV RNA PCR genetic material (RNA) testing uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify an active hepatitis C infection. The RNA can be found in a person’s blood within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to the virus. HCV RNA testing may be done to double-check a positive result on an HCV antibody test, measure the level of virus in the blood (called viral load), or show how well a person with HCV is responding to treatment.
  • HCV quantitative test (also called viral load) is often used before and during treatment to find out how long treatment needs to be given and to check how well treatment is working.
  • HCV viral genotyping is used to find out which genotype of the HCV virus is present. HCV has 6 genotypes, and some are easier to treat than others.

There is no vaccine available to prevent hepatitis C.

The quantitative HCV RNA tests use either a process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) or signal amplification (branched DNA). These are all “quantitative” techniques and will give an actual level of HCV RNA — a measurement of the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood. The result will be an exact number, such as “1,215,422 IU/L.” Many people refer to the quantitative measurement as the hepatitis C “viral load”.

Explanation of test results:

There are 2 situations in which a quantitative test is useful:

The quantitative HCV RNA test is checked before a patient starts treatment.

For each patient, the result can be described as either a “high” viral load, which is usually >800,000 IU/L, or a “low” viral load, which is usually <800,000 IU/L. Knowing the viral load before starting treatment is useful because patients with “high” viral loads can have a difficult time getting the virus to become completely undetectable on treatment. Patients with “low” viral loads have a better chance of getting their virus to become completely undetectable on treatment.

The quantitative HCV RNA test is used to monitor a patient who is currently on treatment.

The response to treatment is considered good when the quantitative HCV RNA measurement drops and the virus eventually becomes completely undetectable.

When it comes to personal health, many people will see a doctor or physician at any sign of trouble. Unfortunately it is often the opposite when it comes to sexual health. Many people see discussing their sexual health as being taboo, when in fact it should be the exact opposite. Talking about it is very important, especially if there are signs or symptoms of a problem.

Many people are scared to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or ask about their sexual health because of myths that exist about it. Some of these myths respond to confidentiality. Many people are worried that if they test, their friends, colleagues, or parents might find out about it. The truth is that many places offer confidential testing and treatment, where all information is held between the patient and provider.

Other people are worried that the testing process is painful or uncomfortable, when in fact one can test for almost every STD with either a blood or urine sample. If a blood draw sounds uncomfortable, it may help to know that it involves only a small needle and a short time of actual drawing.

Some individuals are concerned that if they contract an STD they will have it for life. In reality all STDs can be treated, and most of them can be cured. Curable diseases include syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. STDs that cannot be cured, but are treatable are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes.

A lot of people believe that if they haven’t had sex they cannot receive an STD. The truth is that STDs can be contracted through oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse. If someone has had any of these types of intercourse it might be a good idea to get tested.

But if you’re not showing any signs of symptoms there’s no need to get tested, right? Wrong, many STDs progress without showing symptoms in certain individuals. While not having any symptoms is a great sign, nevertheless it is probably a good idea to get tested if you’ve had any risky sexual behaviors.

Keep in mind that condoms, when used correctly, do a great job of protecting people against STDs. However, things like herpes that are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact can still be contracted even when using a condom. For that reason you should always be aware of symptoms that may exist where the condom did not cover. Herpes can also be carried orally in the form of a cold sore. While cold sores are common and not something to be worried about, it is important to be aware of them on yourself or on partners because they can transmit the type-1 herpes virus through skin-to-skin contact as well.

Carrying on or starting a relationship with an STD can be difficult or uncomfortable in some situations.  A suggestion for getting through this is to be knowledgeable about your STD. The more you know about it, the better you will be able to inform your partners and make smart decisions. If you have a current partner at the time of diagnosis, they should be tested and treated as well for the STD. If the STD is incurable, stay adherent to the medication and make sure you inform any potential partners of your infection before any sexual contact.

If you decide to do some testing, make sure you are open and honest about any symptoms, possible exposures, or recent partners you’ve had when you speak with someone. They use this information to make sure you are doing the right tests at the right time so you don’t receive any false results.

Some final words of wisdom are “treat your body like you treat your toothbrush – don’t share it with everybody… STDs are equal opportunity employers. They don’t discriminate.”

* For the complete article, please visit http://stdtestingblog.com/original-articles/

The school nurse can serve a variety of functions, from administering first aid to taking temperature to … pregnancy testing?

Starting this fall, the health centers in New York’s Port Chester public school district — including Port Chester elementary, middle and high schools — will begin providing STD and pregnancy testing to requesting students.

Any student who tests positive for infection or pregnancy can be referred to a nearby off-campus treatment facility.

The proposal was tabled by Open Door Family Medical Centers, which provides the district’s schools with federally funded clinics staffed with nurse practitioners, and the school board passed it last month.

The issue of comprehensive versus abstinence-only sex education has been on the hot plate for quite some time now, but finally Utah state officials have drawn the line. Unfortunately , it’s still not very clear.

The State Board of Education approved a curriculum that allows teachers to point out different methods of contraception, such as birth control or condoms, and encourages testing for STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoeae, or herpes. However, the curriculum does not allow teachers to promote the use of birth control. With such a fine line between appropriate and inappropriate material, teachers are nervous about what they say in the classroom. If they go too far they could face serious repercussions.

School boards are allowed to teach less than the new curriculum permits; however, they are not allowed to teach more than what is permitted. HB189, a proposed bill, would require discussions regarding  contraceptives in all health classes.

* For the complete article, please visit http://stdtestingblog.com/original-articles/

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How parents respond to the news that their teen is having sex can open communication lines, or sever them, at a key time in the child’s life, according to Maureen Lyon, a clinical psychologist at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington.

Lyon and Christina Breda Antoniades recently wrote a guide that aims to steer parents toward appropriate ways to respond to such a revelation: “My Teen Has Had Sex, Now What Do I Do?” (Fair Winds Press).

“We wanted to provide ways kids and parents could talk,” said Lyon. In her work, she sees the results of poor parent-teen communication on the topic: STDs, unwed pregnancies, and broken relationships.

Though many parents prefer to think that their teen is not sexually active, the book cites statistics that suggest otherwise: 17 percent of seventh- and eighth-graders have had sex at least once, as have 33 percent of ninth-graders, 44 percent of 10th-graders, 56 percent of 11th-graders, and 65 percent of 12th-graders.

Lyon said parents should try to adopt as neutral and non-judgmental a tone as possible. Arguing and screaming often serve only to inflame an already difficult situation, she cautioned. “This can be a teachable moment about the value of sex in the context of a relationship,” said Lyon. “It doesn’t have to end up being a power struggle.”

“First, find the right time, a time when you’ll be uninterrupted and calm, and a private place to speak truthfully from your heart,” Lyon suggests. “Second, share with your teen what your values are and what your concerns are. Third, now that he or she has engaged in adult sexual behavior, let them know you have scheduled an appointment to meet with their pediatrician or adolescent medicine or family doctor for a checkup.”

For the complete article, and for more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please refer to http://www.cdcnpin.org/

An estimated 19 million new infections occur each year, most of them not HIV. Almost half are in people 15- to 24 years old.
Chlamydia diagnoses are skyrocketing. Syphilis, at an all-time low nine years ago, is increasing steadily with a big boost in men.
Although its numbers are fairly stable nationwide, gonorrhea still occurs more than it should.
The southeastern United States has the highest rates of those three, said Toney, a professor with the University of South Florida College of Medicine’s infectious diseases division.
Getting people tested for STDs and teaching them how to keep from getting infected involves issues similar to those reported by Polk County’s HIV/AIDS outreach workers, Toney said.
HIV/AIDS gets the attention, in large part, because of the number of people who die from it. The statistics for other STDS didn’t seem as compelling or deadly, despite the sterility, infertility and pain they can cause.
But here are some statistics that can put STDs in a whole new light:
People infected with other STDS, like gonorrhea or syphilis, are at least 2-to-5 times more likely than uninfected people to get HIV infection when exposed to HIV during sex. That’s according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s true for all races.
Higher rates of poverty among blacks than whites, accompanied by socioeconomic barriers to prevention and treatment, are associated with their higher rates of both STDs and HIV.
Syphilis and herpes, producing sores and ulcers, make it much easier for the HIV virus to get into the body.
“You need less virus to cause an infection,” Toney said.
With gonorrhea and chlamydia, inflammation pushes cells that could get infected closer to the surface, again making HIV infection easier.
Blacks had about 70 percent of reported gonorrhea cases, 48 percent of all chlamydia cases and 46 percent of syphilis cases nationwide in 2007, the CDC reported. They’re about 12 percent of the population.
Black teenagers who are 15-to-19 years old have the highest rates of chlamydia or gonorrhea of any group, CDC said in January.
Black women were 16 times more likely to have syphilis than white women, 15 times more likely to have gonorrhea and seven times more likely to have chlamydia in 2006, according to the Black AIDS Institute’s report on “The State of AIDS in Black America 2009.”
Many cases of STDS don’t get diagnosed. Some don’t cause symptoms or the symptoms are mild. Some common viral infections, like human papillomavirus and genital herpes, don’t get reported.
Collectively, the CDC estimates STDs cost the U.S. health system as much as $15.3 billion a year.
Because of the link between HIV and other STDs, Polk County’s outreach workers often test for both when they’re doing community programs such as the one being held in Haines City today for National HIV Testing Day.
Combatting STDs has to take place through the offices of individual practitioners – doctors, nurses and advanced nurse practitioners – nationwide.
CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women younger than 25. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all high risk, sexually active women for gonorrhea. CDC agrees with that recommendation.
Toney is affiliated with a Southeast Regional STD-HIV Prevention Training Center in Tampa that trains health-care providers in diagnosing, treating and managing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Its standard courses are one to five days long, but there are some alternatives.
The center formed in 1988 because of Florida’s high rates of sexually transmitted diseases. It has gotten CDC funding since then. It’s also the only state-supported STD-HIV prevention center of this type.
The Hillsborough County Health Department also is involved

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.theledger.com/article/20090626/NEWS/906265055/1410?Title=Worry-Over-AIDS-Hides-Rising-STD-Infections

With Cook County boasting the dubious distinction of first in the nation in reported cases of gonorrhea — and second in reported chlamydia cases — the Chicago Public Schools will begin testing teens, who represent 60 percent of new reports.

Approved by the Board of Education this week, the pilot education, testing and treatment program will be run by the city Department of Public Health in six high schools at no cost to CPS.

“It’s a very large problem with teens and adolescents in Chicago, and it’s very, very important that they get the information about these sexually transmitted infections,” said Christopher Brown, Department of Public Health assistant commissioner.

“Our goal is to get the information out to teens — about how they’re transmitted in particular — and also that there’s treatment available.”

The six pilot schools are yet to be determined — but a criteria is that a school have its own health center, city and schools officials said.

“Testing will occur at the designated school health centers, and the students will receive test results,” CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond said. “School health centers will also provide treatment to those students who have been diagnosed.”

Participation by the schools and students — 11th- and 12th-graders are being targeted — will be voluntary, CPS officials said.

The program, in development for over a year, is based on the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, for 2007, which showed Cook County notched 12,338 reported gonorrhea cases, or 233 per 100,000 population. The county notched 30,881 chlamydia cases, or 583 per 100,000 population — second only to Los Angeles County.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/1640738,CST-EDT-std26.article.

A new campaign has just been launched encouraging young men in Argyll & Bute aged 16 – 24 to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The scheme, run by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland and funded by NHS Highland, aims to reduce undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst young men because research suggests they are much less likely to get checked out.

Chlamydia is the most common STI, affecting around one in ten young people. In most cases it has no symptoms – so you could have chlamydia and not know it. Whilst some people have no symptoms at all others have tell-tale signs which include pain when urinating or during sex, bleeding after sex and pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen. If untreated, chlamydia can cause serious health problems including infertility in men.

THT is encouraging men to order a free testing kit by visiting http://www.tht.org.uk/free. The test is quick and easy. It involves taking a urine sample which is then sent off in a freepost envelope to the lab, results are available in 1 to 2 weeks. For those who test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, we’ll discuss the easiest way to get treatment.

Katrina Mitchell, Health Promotion Officer at Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland said: “Chlamydia is at its highest level ever in Scotland with a 7% increase on last year alone. Most people taking a test at the moment are women so we need to do more to encourage men to get checked. That’s why we’re sending out test kits to make it as easy as possible for men to get checked out. We know it can be awkward to get to a clinic, so as well as the postal kits we’re also visiting bars and pubs so that men can take the test there and then.”

From July THT will also be out at pubs, clubs, colleges, community centres, places of work and sports and leisure centres, inviting young men to take the test.

In a bid to reduce dangerous levels of undiagnosed HIV among gay men, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is launching a new campaign encouraging men to take control of their sexual health by regularly testing for HIV. The campaign ‘THIVK – Test – Take Control’ will be run through a stand-alone website (http://www.thinkHIV.co.uk), adverts in gay press, posters, leaflets and condom packs, carrying the following messages:

- “Treatments have never been so good. If you have HIV, the sooner you find out the better.”
- “Think HIV testing takes too long? Some clinics offer ‘rapid tests’ with results in 20 minutes.”
- “You think you’re HIV negative? You might be wrong.”

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) estimates that, in the UK, up to 10,000 gay men have HIV without knowing – one in four men infected with the virus don’t know they have it. Despite this, around a third of gay men in England have never taken an HIV test, with the figure even higher in Scotland and Wales. Reasons men don’t test include not realising how much they’ve put themselves at risk, concern about the length of time they’ll have to wait for the result, and fear of getting a positive result.

THT’s new campaign ‘THIVK – Test – Take Control’ directly addresses these concerns, outlining why – if you have HIV – it’s vitally important it be diagnosed as early as possible. People diagnosed late (CD4 count < 200) are much more likely to die within a year of diagnosis than those diagnosed sooner, while those who leave it too long to start HIV treatment are also more likely to pass the virus on to their partners than those who are already receiving treatment.

Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion says: “Recent medical advances mean HIV treatments are now more effective, easier to take and have fewer side effects. Doctors are now confident people with HIV will live long and healthy lives if diagnosed soon enough. However, if gay men leave it too late to get tested, they’re setting themselves up for serious health problems and the risk of early death.

“It’s now recommended that gay men test at least once a year, or after any unprotected sex. With the new rapid HIV tests available in testing centres such as THT ‘Fastest’, it’s never been easier to test. Part of the reason gay men don’t test as often as they should may be that they under-estimate the importance of being aware of your HIV status. We hope that, through the new campaign, we can encourage men to take control and make testing for HIV a regular part of their lives.”

Notes

1. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We’re here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, visit http://www.tht.org.uk

2. ‘THIVK – Test – Take Control’ is a CHAPS campaign, funded by the Department of Health. CHAPS is a partnership of community-based organisations, co-ordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust, which carry out HIV health promotion work with gay men in England and Wales.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156400.php.

Breaking up over e-mail is a social no-no.

But sending an e-card telling someone to get tested for STDs may be a public health courtesy.

Since 2004, a free Web site, inSpot.org has allowed users to anonymously notify their partners to get tested for STDs such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.

“It’s not like you get a card and it’s, ‘Oh no, it’s a dead end,’” said Deb Levine, executive director of Internet Sexuality Information Services, a nonprofit organization. “The card leads you to regularly updated information about what you may have been exposed to.”

The health department promoted syphilis testing in the chat room through screen names and e-mails. Five years later, Internet Sexuality Information Services and the health department assembled a focus group of gay men to discuss partner notification. They found that most men told their primary partners about an STD diagnosis, “but despite good intentions, they did not tell their casual partners,” according to their report.

Their inspiration for the STD cards came from evites, an electronic invitation for parties and events. The inSPOT.org cards started with a focus on gay men, but have expanded to all sexually active people. Levine said they’d like to conduct further research to gauge the effectiveness of the e-cards.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/10/21/std.e-cards/index.html.

Responding to high levels of sexually-transmitted infections in Chicago high schools, the city Board of Education yesterday voted to increase STD testing and education for teenagers.

The project will be run in tandem with the Chicago Department of Public Health. Cook County leads the nation in reported cases of gonorrhea, and has the third highest number of Chlamydia cases. Teenagers account for more than 60 percent of new cases in Chicago. School leaders hope more education, testing and treatment will lower those numbers.

It is unclear when the program will begin in schools, nor how many schools will be involved. The two agencies will offer prevention education, as well as urine-based testing for the two STDs. The program will be free for students and their families.

For the complete article, please refer to http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/CPS_to_provide_testing_for_STDs,29054