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Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases pp 307–317Cite as

Guidelines for the Use of Molecular Biological Methods to Detect Sexually Transmitted Pathogens in Cases of Suspected Sexual Abuse in Children

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 903))

Abstract

Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children presents a number of problems for the practitioner that are not usually faced when testing adults for the same infections. The identification of an STI in a child, in addition to medical implications, can have serious legal implications. The presence of an STI is often used to support the presence or allegations of sexual abuse and conversely, the identification of an STI in a child will prompt an investigation of possible abuse. The significance of the identification of a sexually transmitted agent in such children as evidence of possible child sexual abuse varies by pathogen.

While culture has historically been used for the detection of STIs in cases of suspected abuse in children, the increasing use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) in adults and the increasing proliferation of second-generation tests with better sensitivity and specificity has made inroads into the use of such tests in children, especially for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Acceptance by the medicolegal system for sexual abuse cases is still controversial and more test cases will be necessary before definitive use becomes standard practice. In addition, if these assays ever become legally admissible in court, there will be recommendations that more than one NAAT assay be used in order to assure confirmation of the diagnostic result.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Margaret R. Hammerschlag & Charlotte A. Gaydos

Authors
  1. Margaret R. Hammerschlag
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  2. Charlotte A. Gaydos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret R. Hammerschlag .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätssraße 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany

    Colin R. MacKenzie

  2. University Hospital, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätssraße 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany

    Birgit Henrich

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Hammerschlag, M.R., Gaydos, C.A. (2012). Guidelines for the Use of Molecular Biological Methods to Detect Sexually Transmitted Pathogens in Cases of Suspected Sexual Abuse in Children. In: MacKenzie, C., Henrich, B. (eds) Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 903. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-937-2_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-937-2_21

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