Background/Purpose: Technologic advances have spurred significant improvements for clinical laboratory services including greater flexibility in etiologic detection and result reporting. Clinical laboratories may develop tests for rapid detection of emergent pathogens or incorporate new test marketed for endemic pathogens. Despite this array, mutations in organisms may adversely affect detection.

Objectives of Symposium: Highlight key developments do improve or hinder the laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: Providers and disease control officials would garner information on a wide variety of bacterial and viral sexually transmitted diseases. This will be particularly useful developing or augmenting existing disease control programs.