The difference between sexually transmitted disease (STD) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) is higher than a semantic one and has implications with respect to the setting in which STI screening tests are ordered and the price of the tests.

 

Infectious disease of any type differs from infection alone for the reason that disease connotes signs and/or apparent symptoms of illness. Likewise STD differs from STI for the reason that STD is related to signs and/or apparent symptoms of the infection causing the STD, whereas as STI is oftentimes silent and hidden. Although the latter may also be referred to as asymptomatic std screening the appropriate or accurate term is STI because it is a state to be contaminated with or without signs or STD symptoms. Essentially, STI, which came into vogue recently, is an all-inclusive term, which refers to both STD and sexually transmitted infection. Additionally it represents what used to be commonly called venereal disease or VD.

 

A glaring example of the distinction between STD and STI is acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV infection. AIDS is the result of infection with the HIV virus, but not everybody with HIV infection has AIDS. People who have AIDS have significant signs and STD symptoms related to the infection including evidence of weakening of the defense mechanisms resulting in the predisposition for becoming secondarily contaminated with other germs that don't normally infect individuals with intact immune systems. Individuals contaminated with the HIV virus but without AIDS symptoms or signs of a compromised defense mechanisms are vulnerable to developing AIDS but until evidence of disease is manifested are believed to own just HIV infection.

 

The semantic difference between STD and STI has implications with respect to test proceedings. Since disease is related to signs and/ or apparent symptoms of illness, disease testing is completed when disease is suspected based on the presence of either or these two indicators of illness. Disease screening on another hand, is the testing performed when one posseses an increased likelihood of illness although signs and/or apparent symptoms of this illness are not present during the time of testing. Screening tests for heart disease, for instance, may be predicated on a positive family history of heart disease, obesity, and other risk factors such as high blood pressure. Similarly, STI screening is completed based on the likelihood of STI due to an increased risk predicated on one's sexual activity. Conversely, STD testing is completed to verify or exclude suspected disease based on the presence of symptoms or signs of STD.

 

The semantic distinction between STI screening and STD testing influences the setting in which tests are ordered and the price of testing. If you have health insurance and undergoes testing in accordance with a doctor's order due to STD symptoms or signs the test(s) are usually billed to the insurance company and taken care of by the insurance carrier. On another hand, if one undergoes STI screening as ordered with a physician the price of the test(s) in many instances won't be covered by medical insurance carrier, in which case the person tested would result in the price of the tests.

 

Before paying claims health insurance companies determine if services were appropriate based on the reason(s) they were provided. Every service including laboratory tests features a unique service code called a CPT code, and every diagnosis, whether it is a certain disease or a corresponding sign or symptom of a specific disease, features a unique diagnosis code called an ICD-9 (soon to be changed to ICD-10) code. Because the diagnosis code conveys the reason a specific service was provided insurance companies compare both codes during the claim review process. If the diagnosis code supports the service code the claim is paid as long the service provided is an advantage of this health insurance plan. Therefore, if appropriate STD/STI testing is done to establish a diagnosis, a supporting diagnosis code will exist to justify payment of the insurance claim. On the other hand however, a valid diagnosis code won't exist to justify STI screening because of the absence of symptoms or signs of STD, in which case medical insurance carrier generally would not cover the price of the test(s) unless limited STI screening is a special good thing about this insurance plan.

 

Because the price of STI screening ordered through a doctor's office or clinic can be very expensive and isn't covered by insurance, comprehensive screening is usually not ordered for the reason that setting, and isn't added with a wellness health exam because of the absence of symptoms or signs of STD. An on the web STD/STI testing service, however, is a viable option inasmuch it gives comprehensive screening test panels at a considerably cheap and provides private online test ordering in addition to confidential online test results. Some services provide testing for trichomonas, Chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV on specimens privately collected and mailed in.