title: Community-based chlamydia and gonorrhea screening through the United States mail, San Francisco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because gonococcal and chlamydial infections are often asymptomatic, disease control requires population-based screening. This report describes the feasibility of home-based testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and of specimen transport via the US mail.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This project sought to establish the efficacy and acceptability to the public of screening by means of urine kits made available in public places and mailed in for STD testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-selected community participants obtained STD test kits from local businesses, collected urine specimens at home, and mailed kits to the health department for nucleic acid amplification testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants picked up 209 test kits and returned 80 (38%): 3 (3.8%) of 76 were positive for gonorrhea and 1 (1.3%) of 76 was positive for chlamydia. The majority (95%) of participants were white gay men. The cost of specimen collection and transport was similar to that of other population-based screening programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the mail for home-based testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia was feasible and may be a useful addition to STD control efforts.
authors: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Bloomfield
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Kent
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Campbell
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Hanbrook
authors: Jeffrey D
authors: JD
authors: Klausner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011177:Postal Service; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic