Laboratory Perspective on Racial Disparities in Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Published in: The journal of applied laboratory medicine Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 264
• Main Authors: Lieberman, Joshua A, Cannon, Chase A, Bourassa, Lori A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 12.01.2021
• Subjects: Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data; Cost of Illness; COVID-19 - economics; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Testing - economics; COVID-19 Testing - statistics & numerical data; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; Health Care Rationing - trends; Health Services Accessibility - economics; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities - economics; Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Laboratories - economics; Laboratories - statistics & numerical data; Laboratories - trends; Minority Groups - statistics & numerical data; Pandemics - economics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Social Determinants of Health - economics; Social Determinants of Health - statistics & numerical data; United States - epidemiology; United States; syphilis; sexually transmitted; gonorrhea; chlamydia; Health disparities
• ISSN: 2576-9456
• DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa163

Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) have risen steadily in recent years, and racial and ethnic minorities have borne the disproportionate burden of STI increases in the United States. Historical inequities and social determinants of health are significant contributors to observed disparities and affect access to diagnostic testing for STI. Public health systems rely heavily on laboratory medicine professionals for diagnosis and reporting of STI. Therefore, it is imperative that clinicians and laboratory professionals be familiar with issues underlying disparities in STI incidence and barriers to reliable diagnostic testing. In this mini-review, we will summarize contributors to racial/ethnic disparity in STI, highlight current epidemiologic trends for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, discuss policy issues that affect laboratory and public health funding, and identify specific analytic challenges for diagnostic laboratories. Racial and ethnic disparities in STI in the US are striking and are due to complex interactions of myriad social determinants of health. Budgetary cuts for laboratory and public health services and competition for resources during the COVID-19 pandemic are major challenges. Laboratory professionals must be aware of these underlying issues and work to maximize efforts to ensure equitable access to diagnostic STI testing for all persons, particularly those most disproportionately burdened by STI.