How to Report a Sexually Transmitted Infection

Reporting Sexually Transmitted Infections in New York State

Reportable STI's

• Chancroid
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Lympohogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
• Syphilis, all stages
• Hepatitis B-HBV is reported under the umbrella of communicable disease. The Communicable Disease Coordinator will contact you for additional information about your patient upon receiving a positive laboratory result.
• HIV-HIV is reported directly to the New York State Department of Health via form DOH-4189. Reports should not be called or sent to the county health department. To obtain DOH-4189 forms, call 518-474-4284.

How to Report to the Local Health Department

Sexually transmitted infections must be reported to the county health department in which your patient resides. It is completely acceptable for healthcare providers or their representative to call the local health department to report by phone. In Ontario County, call 585-396-4343 or 1-800-299-2995.

To increase efficiency in reporting, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) requires laboratories to upload positive STI findings to the Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS). Local health department staff receive STI reports via this system Monday through Friday.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

Upon receiving reports, the STI Coordinator will confirm county of residence and generate a patient-specific STI Reporting Form. This form is faxed to the provider who submitted the laboratory sample. Some providers prefer to initiate this process without prompting from the local health department and keep a supply of STI Reporting Forms on hand. Completed forms should be faxed with a cover sheet to 585-396-4551; attention STI Coordinator. 

 Chlamydia Intake Form. 

 Gonorrhea Intake Form 

New York State has recently increased the amount of information it requests regarding patient sexual history. This information is used for statistical purposes and in the course of contact investigations, should they be indicated. Contact investigations are done for all cases of gonorrhea and for some cases of chlamydia, depending on the circumstances (repeat infections, infections in very young patients, etc.). Patients diagnosed with gonorrhea should expect a call from a NYSDOH caseworker who specializes in STI's.

Syphilis

Upon receiving serology suggestive of syphilis infection, health department staff will confirm county of residence and generate a patient-specific Syphilis Reporting Form. This form will be faxed to the provider who submitted the laboratory sample. Local health department staff will work closely with the NYSDOH and the medical provider to confirm stage of infection and advise appropriate treatment. Patients diagnosed with syphilis will be contacted by the NYSDOH regarding sexual contacts and history of prior treatment for syphilis. For a printable version of the Syphilis Reporting Form, click here. Completed forms should be faxed with a cover sheet to 585-396-4551; attention STI Coordinator.

Chancroid and LGV

These illnesses occur less frequently than the aforementioned. Positive laboratory results will be followed up by a phone call from the STI Coordinator. To report these illnesses directly, call 585-396-4343 or 1-800-299-2995.