Letter to the Editor: Setting the record straight on STD tests

 Two articles recently appeared in the Chronicle (Aug. 29 2003 and Sept. 3, 2003) about STD testing policies at the Duke Student Health Center. There were some inaccuracies that warrant correction:
 * SHC has offered HIV testing since1987 at no cost to Duke students. Although we are very interested in the modified method of testing recently developed by the North Carolina State Health Department, the state lab has not made this kind of testing an option for Duke students at this time. The existence of the new test has in no way influenced our HIV testing policies.
 * HIV testing is only available "confidentially" in the state of North Carolina; it is no longer possible to get anonymous testing.
 * Diagnostic tests now exist for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis B and C viruses. However, curative therapy only exists for the first three conditions. Currently the cost for this entire battery at Duke is $639. For this reason, many health care providers question the cost effectiveness of ordering "all the tests" for an individual who has had low to no risk sexual activity. For this reason, providers often wish to discuss relative risk for STD's before ordering specific tests.
 * The main theme of the two articles is that testing "will hopefully prevent those individuals who have contracted STD's from going undiagnosed and untreated, and spreading the disease to others." This statement is very disturbing to me, because it implies that Duke students now are willing to have unprotected sex and risk contracting a STD, which may be incurable and ultimately fatal. While it is noble to want to protect future partners, it is downright irresponsible not to practice personal protection, which is never mentioned in either article.

Dr. William Christmas, FACP
Clinical Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Director of SHC