BUSINESS WIRE; June 18, 1998

So say 92 percent of physicians responding to a survey sponsored by Gen-Probe during the recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) annual conference in New Orleans.

Even more startling, in light of the high incidence of STDs throughout the United States (charts available upon request), 72 percent believe their patients are completely unaware that untreated STDs can ultimately lead to more serious health problems such as ectopic pregnancy, infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Obstetricians and gynecologists from around the country were surveyed over two days at the ACOG meeting about STD awareness among patients, current STD testing procedures and prevalence of sexually transmitted disease.

"The lack of awareness, together with the high prevalence of STDs, has become very troublesome," said Gen-Probe's manager of scientific affairs, Craig Hill, Ph.D. "According to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals under the age of 25 are at higher risk for acquiring STDs and yet, only 21 percent of respondents to our survey are testing sexually active individuals in this age group that is reportedly the least informed."

"It is clear from these results that testing procedures need to be more routine and easily accessible to all populations, especially teens and young adults," Hill noted.

Some of the other findings include:

-- Only 26 percent of physicians surveyed test their first-time patients for sexually transmitted disease. By comparison, about half of the physicians (47 percent) routinely test their first-time patients for HIV.

-- Despite the incidence and lack of awareness among patients, only three respondents in 10 said they agree strongly that all sexually active individuals under the age of 25 should be automatically tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea when they see their doctors for a check-up.

-- Of those respondents who are affiliated with an HMO, PPO or MCO, 66 percent said they believed the health-care organization would not be receptive to routine STD testing.

-- The number of years in practice impacts likeliness to test: respondents entering practice in the last five years are more likely to test first-time patients for STDs (45 percent), than those who have been in practice for more than five years (22 percent).

-- When asked what type of patient is least informed about STDs, 73 percent said it is patients under the age of 18.

-- Among the respondents who routinely test sexually active patients, 98 percent test for chlamydia and 89 percent test for gonorrhea.

"The survey results revealed information that is both surprising and disturbing," said Hill. "We hope that the results influence the general public to take STDs seriously, and encourage physicians to set up more frequent and common testing standards."

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), STDs represent 85 percent of leading infectious diseases reported. For women, infants, minorities and young people especially, the consequences of these diseases are extremely costly, dangerous and sometimes deadly. (See STD Fact Sheet below for further information).

There are geographic imbalances as well. On the U.S. STD prevalence maps (available upon request), the Southeast, the Northeast and California are notably higher than the rest of the country in reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Gen-Probe, a San Diego-based company, is the recognized leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of diagnostic products based on its patented genetic probe technologies. The company has received more than 35 FDA clearances for genetic probe tests to detect a wide range of microorganisms, including those causing sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis, strep throat, pneumonia and fungal infections.

Full survey results are available by calling 310/444-1394 or by e-mailing kali.coffman@ketchum.com.

STD Facts

-- A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is any disease acquired through sexual contact. There are currently more than 20 STDs identified, with millions of people being infected every year. STDs are caused by bacteria, protozoa, fungi, parasitic insects and viruses. (a)

-- STDs represent approximately 85 percent of leading infectious diseases reported to the CDC. For women, infants, minorities and young people especially, the consequences of these diseases are extremely costly, dangerous -- and sometimes, even deadly. (a)

-- Among women, 15- to 19-years-olds had the highest rate of gonorrhea and 20- to 24-year-olds had the highest rate of primary and secondary syphilis. Among men, 20- to 24-year-olds had the highest rate of gonorrhea and second-highest rate of primary and secondary syphilis. (a)

-- From 1987 through 1996 (the last full year reported), rates of chlamydia increased from 47.8 cases per 100,000 persons to 194.5. This trend reflects increased screening, recognition of asymptomatic infection (mainly in women) and improved reporting, as well as the continuing high burden of disease. (a)

-- Reported rates of chlamydia for women (321.5 per 100,000 people) exceed those for men (60.4). This is mainly due to detection of asymptomatic infection in women through screening. The low rates in men suggest that many of the sex partners of women with chlamydia are not diagnosed or reported. In addition, men diagnosed as having non-gonococcal urethritis are treated but frequently not tested. A large proportion of these men are infected with chlamydia, which is not detected by surveillance systems based on laboratory reporting of positive chlamydia tests. (a)

-- In examining STD statistics by race or ethnicity, wide discrepancies continue between ethnic groups. For example, gonorrhea rates in black adolescents (15-19 years of age) are almost 25 times greater than the rate in white adolescents. The rate of syphilis in blacks is nearly 50 times that in whites; syphilis is Hispanics is about 3 times that in whites. (a)

-- The United States still has the highest rates of STDs in the industrialized world, with rates that are 50 to 100 times higher than other industrialized nations. There are an estimated 12 million new cases of STDs in the United States each year. Of these, 3 million occur among teenagers, 13 to 19 years old. (b)

-- Some of the most common and serious STDs include: (c)

-- Chlamydia -- An estimated 4 million new cases each year

-- Gonorrhea -- An estimated 800,000 new cases each year

-- Human Papilloma virus (HPV) -- An estimated 500,000 to 1 million new infections each year

-- Genital Herpes -- An estimated 200,000 to 500,000 new cases each year (symptomatic)

-- Syphilis -- An estimated 101,000 new cases each year

-- Congenital Syphilis -- An estimated 3,400 new cases each year (babies born who need syphilis treatment)

-- HIV -- An estimated 40,000 to 80,000 new infections each year

(a) Division of STD Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 1996. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 1997.

(b) The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Institute of Medicine, 1996.

(c) The National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, The Challenge of STD Prevention in the United States, November 1996.

--30--SJK/la RPL/la

CONTACT: Ketchum Public Relations Kali Coffman, 310/444-1394 kali.coffman@ketchum.com

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