Investigation of detection capacities of laboratories in sexually transmitted disease surveillance areas in China

Abstract

Objective: To understand the detection capacities of the laboratories in medical institutions in national sexually transmitted disease (STD) surveillance areas in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the applications of STD tests in laboratories of the medical institutions in 105 STD surveillance areas in China, the proportion of each STD test application was calculated and the differences among medical institutions were compared. Results: In 752 medical institutions, the proportions of Treponema pallidum serological test and non-Treponema pallidum serological test applications were 97.5% (733/752) and 91.4% (687/752), respectively. The proportions of gonococcal culture and Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid test applications were 48.4% (364/752) and 23.4% (176/752), respectively. The application proportions of all tests for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) were less than 40%. In medical institutions at provincial, prefectural and county levels, the application proportions of serological tests of Treponema and non-Treponema were all more than 90%, and the application proportions of gonococcal culture were 66.9% (83/124), 46.9% (197/420) and 47.4% (82/173) respectively, the application proportions of Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid test were 29.0% (36/124), 25.0% (105/420) and 19.7% (34/173) respectively. The application proportions of syphilis and gonorrhea tests and chlamydia nucleic acid test in public medical institutions were higher than those in private/joint venture medical institutions and higher in dermatological specialized hospitals than those in general hospitals and maternal and child health centers. The application proportions of STD tests in medical institutions in eastern China and central southern China were generally higher than those in other areas, and the lowest was found in northwestern China. Conclusions: Serological tests for syphilis have been carried out widely in medical institutions in all STD surveillance areas in China, but there were insufficient use of tests for gonococcal culture and Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid. The application proportions of STD tests vary in medical institutions at different levels and with different types and ownerships, and the development of STD testing is unbalanced in different areas. It is necessary to strengthen the capacity building of gonococcal culture and Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid test, and strengthen the capacity building of STD testing in grassroots, private/joint venture medical institutions and those in underdeveloped western areas.