On Wednesday, March 13, federal health authorities announced that inadequate testing of homosexual male on an annual basis, as recommended, is leading to several instances of diseases that are passed on through sex being undetected. Even if those who are to be tested appear for examination, the health personnel of medical institutions are not sticking to the established guidelines.

There is a faster DNA test available today, called NAAT or nucleic acid amplification test, which has to be passed by the government. The officials talked about this at a press conference in Chicago, saying that it is capable of pinpointing double the number of instances of sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhoea.  In order to speed innovation in the area, the centers for disease control and prevention are coordinating with the FDA and test manufacturers to facilitate approval of NAAT.

These, as well as syphilis, which is still on the increase, are all major threats to homosexual and bisexual men, according to Dr. Kevin Fenton, a luminary of the Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention. Such diseases, Dr. Fenton observed, also enhance the chances of getting and passing on HIV, the AIDS-causing virus.

Signs of transmitted diseases must be looked for - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests yearly blood tests to check for HIV and syphilis, and appropriate tests for Chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Many cases have not been observed because all sites have not been tested.

Dr. M. Douglas Jr., the Director of the Divison of STD Prevention at the Centers and other researchers believe that guidelines are not being properly followed. Screening rates are low, and several infections are missed.

Poor staffing is one reason for this lack of compliance, insufficient funds is another.

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