Four Tests, One Vial
Pap test, HPV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Medco Forum, May 2002

AmeriPath is now offering chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. We are one of the first laboratories to offer this test from the Thin-layer Pap Test vial, providing you with the ability to order four tests from one vial: Pap test, HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, infecting approximately three to five million Americans annually. Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms and, if left untreated, these infections may lead to severe complications. Many professional organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), recommend that the following patient populations be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea:

· All patients under the age of 25 (annual screening);
· All other patients who are considered high-risk:
- History of multiple sexual partners or a sexual partner with multiple contacts
- Sexual contact with persons with culture-proven STDs
- History of repeated episodes of STDs, and
- Attendance at clinics for STDs

In addition, all obstetrics patients should be screened in order to prevent transmitting the disease to their infant during birth.

AmeriPath is using PCR-based testing; specifically, the Roche Cobas Amplicor Assay. This test method will detect chlamydia and gonorrhea by using a multiplex PCR to amplify sequences specific to each disease. This PCR-based method provides increased sensitivity and specificity in comparison with other previously used methodologies, such as GenProbe, Abbot LCx and cell cultures. The following chart depicts sensitivity and specificity data from a study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Comparison of Methodologies*
	Sensitivity	Specificity
Cobas Amplicor (Roche)	92.7%	99.4%
LCx (Abbott)	83.7%	99.9%
Amplified CT (GenProbe)	85.4%	99.1%
Cell Culture	57.7%	99.3%

AmeriPath is making this testing easy for you. In addition to the Pap test and HPV test, you can order chlamydia and gonorrhea testing directly from the Thin-Layer Pap test vial. This means you only have to collect one sample. More importantly, you can send your Pap tests, HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea samples and your biopsies to the same laboratory: AmeriPath.
The diagnostic quality available at AmeriPath is unparalleled in the industry. Our ASCUS rate remains less than 5%, compared with the 10-15% average maintained by national clinical laboratories. Our 77 board-certified cytopathologists pool their medical expertise when consulting on unique or difficult cases and provide personal consultations regarding patient treatment plans and disease management. We have extensive managed-care coverage, superior turnaround times for Pap tests and for biopsies, as well as informative patient education materials. Our enhanced pathology reports include color photomicrographs, a cervical map, and a cytology history chart. In addition to all of this, we have a new program to notify your patients of normal Pap test results to save you time and money.

AmeriPath Inc., is the nation’s largest company focused on providing anatomic pathology, cancer diagnostics, and related healthcare information services to physicians, hospitals, national clinical laboratories and managed-care organizations. The company’s 426 physicians provide medical services through 42 outpatient laboratories, 224 hospital inpatient laboratories and 64 outpatient surgery centers in 21 states.

References:
*Goessens, W.H., et al. “Comparison of Three Commercially Available Amplification Assays, AMP CT, LCx, and COBAS AMPLICOR, for Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in First-void urine.” J. Clin. Microbiol. 1997;35(10) 2628-2633