Researchers at the Center for Disease Control National STD Conference last week revealed results from a study that can identify twice as many throat and rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia infections as traditional bacterial culture.

Public health officials in San Diego say that they are ahead of the game and already using these tests when doing most screenings for gonorrhea and chlamydia infection.

“At the public health lab we do have the new test and we can do them from any site,” said Dr. Elaine Pierce, from the San Diego Public Health Department.

The new study shows that a more efficient STD screening method – called a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) – can detect at least twice as many oropharyngeal (throat) and rectal gonorrhea and chlamydia infections as a bacterial culture test, the standard means of diagnosing gonorrhea and chlamydia in infections not in genital sites.

“Our policy is that we test the sites where the patient has been exposed,” Pierce said.

While the exact number of NAAT tests performed by public health clinics could not be confirmed, officials said that they estimate that they do “well over 100 NAAT tests per week from all three sites.”

Both NAAT tests are approved to detect infections through pelvic and urethral swabs, but this study highlighted the test’s ability to accurately detect presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea from throat and rectum samples. Historically, infections in the throat and rectum have been harder to detect. The CDC and FDA are working on a future FDA approval for this method of collection throughout the country.

Meanwhile, according to the Health and Human Services Agency, chlamydia cases in San Diego have increased by 25 percent in the last five years from 10,249 cases in 2003 to 12,796 cases in 2007. There also were 1,972 cases of gonorrhea in 2003 and 2,403 in 2007, a 22 percent increase.

A possible explanation for the increase in STD cases could be that patients are not forthcoming about their sexual practices, making it difficult for their health providers to order appropriate tests and to stop the spread of these sexually transmitted diseases.

Although people are more likely to be symptomatic when infected with gonorrhea, compared to chlamydia, both infections have many of the same symptoms. In men, there may be a discharge from the penis. Urination could also be painful, or burn, and feeling a need to pee may be more frequent.

Still, 40 percent of participants in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study had no symptoms. And public health officials explained that is often a problem, especially in men who have sex with men.

“STDs can lead to a higher risk of becoming infected with HIV,” said Terry Cunningham, chief of the Health and Human Services Agency’s HIV, STD and Hepatitis Branch in San Diego.

Undetected and untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea infections can cause long-term health complications.

If someone does experience signs of these STDs they often show up two to six days after exposure or infection.

Untreated, gonorrhea can spread from the urethra to infect the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, Cowper’s glands, and the epididymis, which, if inflamed and scarred, can lead to even more serious problems.

“Fortunately in an STD clinic we don’t wait the week for the results of the tests to see if somebody has been exposed,” Cunningham said. “In such cases when someone reports that they have been exposed, no matter what site it is at that they may have been infected, then we treat them on that visit without waiting for their test results to come back. We really have these clinics to be a service to the community.”

And public health officials urged San Diego residents, symptomatic or not, to take proper precautions by practicing safer sex and to get tested regularly.

“Anyone engaging in oral or anal sex is at risk for contracting chlamydia and gonorrhea in their throat or rectum,” said a health educator from Family Health Centers of San Diego Tuesday Night Clinic, noting that sometimes symptoms go unnoticed. “That is why it is important for readers to know that they should have all three areas – throat, urethra and rectum – swabbed if they have been sexually active. Additionally, they should ask their doctor to use a NAAT test so they can feel confident in their results.”

There are several low-cost clinics throughout San Diego that do STD screenings at various times throughout the week. Fees, which include all tests, exams, treatment and follow-ups, are generally $15 to $20 and can be waived if the person is unable to pay, officials said.

Rosecrans Public Health Center

3851 Rosecrans St.

San Diego, CA 92110

Phone : 619-692-8550

Monday-Friday (7:30-11:30 a.m.) and (12:45-4 p.m.)

Southeast Public Health Center

3177 Ocean View Boulevard

San Diego, CA 92113

Phone : 619-231-9300

Monday, Wednesday, Friday (10-6 p.m.), Thursday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Family Health Centers of San Diego

Tuesday Night Clinic

3544 30th St.

San Diego, CA 92104

Tuesday (5-9 p.m.)