Los Angeles County has seen a rise in the number of chlamydia cases in the last decade, and now make up three-quarters of the county’s STD cases. In fact, the CDC ranked LA County first among counties nationwide in cases of chlamydia. Sixty-three percent of the county’s cases occur in women between 15-24. With this in mind, LA County Public Health has developed and implemented a free chlamydia home test kit for young women.
From the Public Health Department’s website women can order the test kit, learn the results, and receive referral and treatment information. The test itself entails using a swab, sealing it in a provided container, and mailing it back to the lab. A week later, patients can get the results over the phone or online. The site also provides a map of nearby clinics for those who test positive.
This program has the potential to reach young people who may otherwise be reluctant to visit clinics for STD testing. Allowing patients to administer the test from their own home will certainly reduce costs associated with providers and facilities. Clearly, catching and treating chlamydia and other STDs before they spread is vital to public health efforts, and this program could be a great help. It will be fascinating to see if LA County’s high STD rates are reduced as a result, and if it turns out be more cost-effective than traditional office visits.
See the county’s website for this program here, and read about the program in the news here and here.
