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Molecular testing for sexually transmitted infections offer a huge step in sensitivity and specificity over traditional methods.

Of the eleven STIs that are directly detected by our panel, molecular surpasses traditional methods as follows:

  • Trichomoniasis is a common STI parasite whose identification by traditional methods requires very specific collection conditions and can prove to be very challenging in the outpatient setting. Our molecular test for trichomoniasis is highly sensitive and accurate, even under difficult collection conditions, eliminating the most common risk for false negatives.
  • Syphillis is less common in the general population, but is of high concern due to the sequalae associated with prolonged infections. Traditional methods have struggled to detect syphillis in cases with low viral titers, which may occur during different stages of infection. The amplification of signal and resulting high sensitivity of our molecular test greatly reduces the risk of a false negative.
  • Chlamydia has proven extremely challenging to test for using traditional methods. The risk of false negatives with traditional techniques was so high that treatment for chlamydia was often performed based on a positive gonorrhoea analysis. Molecular accurately identifies chlamydia, even in the absence of concurrent infections.
  • Gonorrhoea is a fastidious organism that requires specialized conditions for collection and growth under traditional methods. Our panel identifies gonorrhoea accurately and specifically.
  • Identification of Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 versus type 2 is exclusively a molecular test, as traditional techniques will not reliably distinguish between the two organisms.
With faster turnaround times and higher sensitivity than traditional methods, molecular panels allow for rapid treatment specific to the organism of concern while also identifying a pathogen earlier in the course of infection.

To request more information on how we could address this for your practice, contact us here.