Clinic-Based Testing for Rectal and Pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis Infections by Community-Based Organizations - Five Cities, United States, 2007

This report summarizes results of a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the San Francisco Department of Public Health to gather data on rectal and pharyngeal gonorrhea and chlamydia testing at screening sites managed by six gay-focused community-based organizations (CBOs) in five US cities during 2007. The purpose of the study was to determine sexually transmitted disease testing practices among CBOs serving men who have sex with men (MSM). Findings indicate that three organizations collected samples for nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing and three for culture. Approximately 30,000 tests were performed. Results demonstrate that gay-focused CBOs can detect large numbers of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases and might reach MSM not being tested elsewhere.