Health Officials Offer Home Test Kits For Chlamydia, Gonorrhea

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County officials hope to reduce the number of young women with chlamydia and gonorrhea by launching a series of high tech kiosks to distribute home testing kits.

Public health chief Dr. Jonathan Fielding says the county leads the country in the number of chlamydia cases, and is second in gonorrhea cases.

Within the county, the highest concentration of both illnesses is found in the young minority female populations of South Los Angeles -- where about eight kiosks will be located.

County officials say the kiosks and health workers distributing kits at public events will be cheaper than clinic appointments -- and more discrete. Users will be able to get test results online or by phone.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause serious problems like sterility or problems in childbirth.

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