News & Events

“In this, National STD Awareness Month, we are urging all young sexually active individuals to get tested. These infections are easily cured but if left untreated can have devastating health consequences,” says Linda L. Alexander, Ph.D., F.A.A.N., President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Social Health Association (ASHA). ASHASTD.ORG

Today, getting tested couldn’t be easier – thanks to a new test which requires just a simple urine sample from either men or women. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), the company behind this innovative new diagnostic system, says its use of state-of-the art biotechnology is far more sensitive and accurate than conventional tests and can identify a significant number of infections that would have previously gone undetected.

Once diagnosed, chlamydia and gonorrhea are easily treatable with antibiotics. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious and costly health complications, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancies.

The full weight of opinion, including that of the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is behind ASHA’s call for screening to tackle the enormous morbidity associated with these diseases. In addition, the recent HEDIS 2000 (Healthplan Employee Data Indicator Set) Measure clearly identifies for healthcare plan organizations that screening is a cost-effective component of patient management. The Measure cites a 66% reduction in PID within one year of screening for a representative sample of sexually active females aged 15–25 years.

Experts are particularly concerned about young people in this age group who have unprotected sex. Young women aged 15-24 years are most at risk, accounting for 79% of all chlamydia cases. Many don’t realize that chlamydia infection may not show any symptoms and that the infection can silently inflict life-long damage to their health and affect their ability to have children.

Traditional invasive methods of testing using swabs have previously deterred many individuals from screening. In support of STD Awareness Month, BD, with offices in Maryland, is undertaking a healthcare education program with physicians in the Baltimore area. Aimed at raising awareness of the new diagnostic test through its “If you don’t ask, they won’t tell” program, BD is encouraging physicians to be more active in identifying at-risk patients and promoting the simplicity of testing.

To find out more about chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases please call:

For information in English, the CDC National STD Hotline at1-800-227-8922.

The lines are open from 8am-11pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

For information in Spanish, the CDC National STD/AIDS Hotline, Spanish Service, at 1-800-344-7432. The lines are open seven days a week from 8:00 am-2:00 am, Eastern Time.

All calls are free and confidential.

For further information on BD’s innovative technology log on to www.bd.com or call the BD information line on 1-800-638-8663.

BD is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a broad range of supplies, devices and systems for use by healthcare professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, BD had total revenues of $3.4 billion and net income of $276 million.