Use of a Rapid Test for Gonorrhea & Chlamydia for Women Presenting With Possible Sexually Transmitted Infections

Use of a Rapid Turnaround Test for Gonorrhea & Chlamydia to Improve Treatment of Women Presenting With Possible Sexually Transmitted Infections

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of utilizing a rapid turnaround CT/NG test on treatment of female patients in the emergency department or urgent care setting with possible STIs.

All females ages 18-55 presenting to the University of Maryland Medical Center Emergency Department or Urgent Care whose provider suspects sexually transmitted infection will be offered study enrollment and be randomly assigned to either the control or the experimental group. Both groups will have a urinalysis, a pregnancy test, a pelvic exam, and an endocervical sample collected, but the experimental group's urine will be used to run the rapid turnaround test (RTAT) instead of the standard PCR. Data will be collected regarding provider decision making, length of stay in the emergency department, patient satisfaction, clinician satisfaction, further healthcare sought by patient, and cost surrounding each treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female patients age 18-55
• Signs or symptoms consistent with sexually transmitted infection
• Medical provider willing to consider the result of the rapid turnaround test in decision to treat for gonorrhea/chlamydia
• Must have a urine specimen obtained and a pelvic exam performed as part of the anticipated standard of care evaluation
• Provides informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Signs of systemic infection
• Patient in whom the provider is unwilling to consider the result of the rapid turnaround test
• Patient who reports being treated for either gonorrhea or chlamydia in the preceding 3 months
• Patients undergoing evaluation for sexual assault
• Patients that are known to be pregnant or express concern that they may be pregnant
• Incarcerated patients
• Students/Employees of the facility
• Presence of any other condition(s) that the investigator feels makes the patient unsuitable for study inclusion.