Mission
To assist in the national and state surveillance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) by providing state of the art laboratory testing.
What we do
- Test clinical specimens submitted by hospital and commercial laboratories and medical practitioners throughout the state for HIV and HCV infections, and the infectious agents that cause Chlamydia (CT), Gonorrhea (NG), Syphilis, and trichomoniasis by serological and/or molecular methods.
- Perform additional tests to confirm HIV, HCV, or Syphilis in specimens that tested positive in initial screening tests.
- Partner with the RIDOH Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Epidemiology to contribute laboratory data used in the active surveillance of STI, HIV, and HCV within the state and to focus public health intervention efforts.
Accomplishments
- Introduced into practice a more sensitive and specific algorithm for syphilis testing, the CDC’s Reverse Syphilis Algorithm.
- Reduced turnaround time for results reporting of HIV confirmation testing by improving laboratory procedures.
- Added Trichomonas molecular testing to the lab’s test menu.
- Added HCV RNA confirmatory testing to complete the recommended HCV test algorithm. MORE
- Performed testing to help ensure a rapid response by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/2021.