Comparison of cervical cancer screening results among 256,648 women in multiple clinical practices.

Background: In the United States, human papillomavirus (HPV) and Papanicolaou (Pap) testing (cotesting) for cervical screening in women ages 30 to 65 years is the preferred strategy, and cytology alone is acceptable. Recently, a proprietary automated test for identifying high-risk HPV types for primary cervical screening was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The objective of the current study was to document extensive cervical screening among these screening options.

Use of rapid HIV assays as supplemental tests in specimens with repeatedly reactive screening immunoassay results not confirmed by HIV-1 Western blot.

Background: An alternate HIV testing algorithm has been proposed which includes a fourth-generation immunoassay followed by an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation supplemental test for reactive specimens and a nucleic acid test (NAT) for specimens with discordant results.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of five rapid tests (Alere Clearview, Bio-Rad Multispot, OraSure OraQuick, MedMira Reveal, and Trinity Biotech Unigold) as the supplemental antibody assay in the algorithm.

Study Design: A total of 3273 serum and plasma specimens that were third-generation immunoassay repeatedly reactive and Western blot (WB) negative or indeterminate were tested with rapid tests and NAT.

Blood cholesterol trends 2001-2011 in the United States: analysis of 105 million patient records.

Objectives: We report annual trends in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from an in-care patient population of nearly 105 million adults across the United States (U.S.), from 2001 through 2011.

Chlamydial and gonococcal testing during pregnancy in the United States.

Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate the rates of testing, prevalence, and follow-up testing for chlamydial and gonococcal infection in a nationally based population that is comparable with the US pregnant population in terms of age and race.

Study Design: We extracted laboratory results for 1,293,423 pregnant women tested over a 3-year period.

Results: During pregnancy, 59% (761,315 of 1,293,423) and 57% (730,796 of 1,293,423) of women were tested at least once for Chlamydia trachomatis or for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, respectively.

National status of testing for hypothyroidism during pregnancy and postpartum.

Context: Hypothyroidism, overt or subclinical, is associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant women and their offspring. Knowledge of current national thyroid testing rates and positivity during pregnancy is limited.

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate thyroid testing rate and positivity during pregnancy and postpartum, including testing and positivity rates of thyroperoxidase antibody (TPO Ab) and free T(4) tests in pregnant women with elevated TSH levels (hypothyroid), and in pregnant women having TSH within range (euthyroid).

Gaps in diabetes screening during pregnancy and postpartum.

Objective: To estimate the screening rate and prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the screening rate and prevalence of postpartum diabetes, in a large, national sample of pregnant women. We also estimated the potential effects of the new International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups recommendations, which replace the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with the 75-g OGTT, on GDM prevalence and gestational plasma glucose testing practices.

Methods: We identified pregnant women who used the laboratory services of Quest Diagnostics and who were screened for GDM and were tested postpartum.