Infectious Diseases Hub

Equity in Diagnostic Testing Overview

BIPOC patients are disproportionately impacted by infectious disease diagnostic testing disparities and treatment disparities. Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic patients in jail intake data were more likely to request testing for HIV and hepatitis, which is linked to a lack of adequate care. A study of pediatric emergency departments found that non-Hispanic white children were twice as likely to receive antibiotic treatment for viral acute respiratory infections in comparison to their BIPOC counterparts. Equity in diagnostic testing is vital in detecting and treating infectious diseases to help ensure prompt and effective treatment for all patients.

Key infectious diseases tests are:

Antimicrobial Resistance agents (e.g. MRSA, VRE, KPC, etc.).
Candida auris fungal infection
COVID-19
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
Hepatitis
HIV
Influenza
Lyme disease
Malaria
Measles and mumps
Pneumonia
Polio
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Tuberculosis
West Nile virus

Programs

Featured Programs
Diagnostics Decoded | Emerging and Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases
DHH Program, DHH Video, Dr. Rodney Rohde, infectious diseases, viruses, infections, Mpox, Alaskapox, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, vaccines, AI, zoonotic viruses
Diagnostics Decoded | Emerging and Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases
DHH Program, DHH Video, Dr. Rodney Rohde, infectious diseases, viruses, infections, Mpox, Alaskapox, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, vaccines, AI, zoonotic viruses
Infectious Diseases
DHH Program, DHH Video, Dr. Rodney Rohde, infectious diseases, viruses, infections, Mpox, Alaskapox, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, vaccines, AI, zoonotic viruses
Unlocking the Mystery of Long COVID | New Hope in Diagnostic Testing
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, General Health, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, long COVID, immune system, complement system, long COVID symptoms, complement proteins, damaged red blood cells
Unlocking the Mystery of Long COVID | New Hope in Diagnostic Testing
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, General Health, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, long COVID, immune system, complement system, long COVID symptoms, complement proteins, damaged red blood cells
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, General Health, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, long COVID, immune system, complement system, long COVID symptoms, complement proteins, damaged red blood cells
What Is the Impact of Unconscious Bias on Laboratory Diagnostics and Health Outcomes?
General Health
DHH Program, DHH Video, diagnostics decoded, health disparities, diagnostic testing, unconscious bias, Healthy People 2030, white gay men, marginalized communities, diabetes, HIV
What Is the Impact of Unconscious Bias on Laboratory Diagnostics and Health Outcomes?
General Health
DHH Program, DHH Video, diagnostics decoded, health disparities, diagnostic testing, unconscious bias, Healthy People 2030, white gay men, marginalized communities, diabetes, HIV
General Health
DHH Program, DHH Video, diagnostics decoded, health disparities, diagnostic testing, unconscious bias, Healthy People 2030, white gay men, marginalized communities, diabetes, HIV
Why Diagnostic Stewardship Is Important
General Health
DHH Article, healthcare advocates, medical tests, diagnostic testing, medical lab tests, antibiotic misuse, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic-resistant pathogens, bacteria, antibiotic stewardship, diagnostic stewardship, broad-spectrum antibiotics, Medicare recipients
Why Diagnostic Stewardship Is Important
General Health
DHH Article, healthcare advocates, medical tests, diagnostic testing, medical lab tests, antibiotic misuse, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic-resistant pathogens, bacteria, antibiotic stewardship, diagnostic stewardship, broad-spectrum antibiotics, Medicare recipients
General Health
DHH Article, healthcare advocates, medical tests, diagnostic testing, medical lab tests, antibiotic misuse, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic-resistant pathogens, bacteria, antibiotic stewardship, diagnostic stewardship, broad-spectrum antibiotics, Medicare recipients
How Skin Tone Influences Pulse Oximeter Accuracy
General Health
DHH Article, BIPOC, Black patients, equitable care, diagnostic testing, Black Americans, medical tests, pulse oximeters, skin tone, oxygen levels, vital signs, COVID-19, darker skin tones, wearable devices
How Skin Tone Influences Pulse Oximeter Accuracy
General Health
DHH Article, BIPOC, Black patients, equitable care, diagnostic testing, Black Americans, medical tests, pulse oximeters, skin tone, oxygen levels, vital signs, COVID-19, darker skin tones, wearable devices
General Health
DHH Article, BIPOC, Black patients, equitable care, diagnostic testing, Black Americans, medical tests, pulse oximeters, skin tone, oxygen levels, vital signs, COVID-19, darker skin tones, wearable devices
How Do Sickle Cell Disease and APOL1 Impact FSGS?
Sickle Cell
DHH Article, sickle cell disease, FSGS, APOL1, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetes, lupus, HIV infection, APOL1 gene, kidney disease, kidney disease resources, Black ancestry, African ancestry, West African ancestry, Hispanic ancestry, sickle cell trait, APOL1 variants, African sleeping sickness
How Do Sickle Cell Disease and APOL1 Impact FSGS?
Sickle Cell
DHH Article, sickle cell disease, FSGS, APOL1, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetes, lupus, HIV infection, APOL1 gene, kidney disease, kidney disease resources, Black ancestry, African ancestry, West African ancestry, Hispanic ancestry, sickle cell trait, APOL1 variants, African sleeping sickness
Sickle Cell
DHH Article, sickle cell disease, FSGS, APOL1, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetes, lupus, HIV infection, APOL1 gene, kidney disease, kidney disease resources, Black ancestry, African ancestry, West African ancestry, Hispanic ancestry, sickle cell trait, APOL1 variants, African sleeping sickness
COVID-19 Infection Risk and Omicron in Children
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, food allergies, obesity, asthma, eczema, type 2 inflammation, HEROS study, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2 receptor, Omicron, COVID-19 infection risk, children, COVID-19 in children
COVID-19 Infection Risk and Omicron in Children
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, food allergies, obesity, asthma, eczema, type 2 inflammation, HEROS study, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2 receptor, Omicron, COVID-19 infection risk, children, COVID-19 in children
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, food allergies, obesity, asthma, eczema, type 2 inflammation, HEROS study, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2 receptor, Omicron, COVID-19 infection risk, children, COVID-19 in children
Long-Haul COVID-19 and POTS, What Do We Know?
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, dizziness, extreme fatigue, discolored toes, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, ivabradine, ashwagandha, exercise intolerance, tremors
Long-Haul COVID-19 and POTS, What Do We Know?
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, dizziness, extreme fatigue, discolored toes, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, ivabradine, ashwagandha, exercise intolerance, tremors
Infectious Diseases
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, long-haul COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19 symptoms, dizziness, extreme fatigue, discolored toes, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, ivabradine, ashwagandha, exercise intolerance, tremors
What Are PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, and Their Differences?
General Health
DHH Program, Kyle Riding PhD MLS ASCP, polymerase chain reaction, PCR test, qPCR test, RT-PCR test, COVID-19
What Are PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, and Their Differences?
General Health
DHH Program, Kyle Riding PhD MLS ASCP, polymerase chain reaction, PCR test, qPCR test, RT-PCR test, COVID-19
General Health
DHH Program, Kyle Riding PhD MLS ASCP, polymerase chain reaction, PCR test, qPCR test, RT-PCR test, COVID-19
Kidney Cancer and COVID-19
Kidney Cancer
DHH Program, Pavlos Msaouel MD PhD, kidney cancer, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
Kidney Cancer and COVID-19
Kidney Cancer
DHH Program, Pavlos Msaouel MD PhD, kidney cancer, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
Kidney Cancer
DHH Program, Pavlos Msaouel MD PhD, kidney cancer, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
COVID-19 and Sickle Cell, How to Protect Yourself</a>
Sickle Cell
DHH Program, Seethal Jacob MD MS FAAP, COVID-19, sickle cell, sickle cell disease, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
COVID-19 and Sickle Cell, How to Protect Yourself
Sickle Cell
DHH Program, Seethal Jacob MD MS FAAP, COVID-19, sickle cell, sickle cell disease, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
Sickle Cell
DHH Program, Seethal Jacob MD MS FAAP, COVID-19, sickle cell, sickle cell disease, COVID-19 vaccine, DHH Video
What Do We Know About COVID-19 Vaccinations, the Delta Variant, and Onesimus?
General Health, COVID-19
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, delta variant, Onesimus
What Do We Know About COVID-19 Vaccinations, the Delta Variant, and Onesimus?
General Health, COVID-19
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, delta variant, Onesimus
General Health, COVID-19
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health, delta variant, Onesimus
BIPOC COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns: Myths and Facts
General Health, COVID-19, Patient-Provider Relationship
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health
BIPOC COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns: Myths and Facts
General Health, COVID-19, Patient-Provider Relationship
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health
General Health, COVID-19, Patient-Provider Relationship
COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, General Health
Coronavirus Health Disparities and Outcomes by Race
COVID-19
cytokine storm, vitamin D absorption, COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus health disparities
Coronavirus Health Disparities and Outcomes by Race
COVID-19
cytokine storm, vitamin D absorption, COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus health disparities
COVID-19
cytokine storm, vitamin D absorption, COVID-19, DHH Article, coronavirus, coronavirus health disparities
How Can Educators Adapt to Distance Learning During a Public Health Crisis?
HUB Patient News
distance learning, public health crisis, coronavirus, Patient Empowerment Network, COVID-19, DHH Article
How Can Educators Adapt to Distance Learning During a Public Health Crisis?
HUB Patient News
distance learning, public health crisis, coronavirus, Patient Empowerment Network, COVID-19, DHH Article
HUB Patient News
distance learning, public health crisis, coronavirus, Patient Empowerment Network, COVID-19, DHH Article
Coping With Trauma Amid COVID-19 and Racial Violence
General Health, HUB Patient News
racial violence, coronavirus, COVID-19, BIPOC, BIPOC populations, police killings, DHH Article, coping with trauma, trauma
Coping With Trauma Amid COVID-19 and Racial Violence
General Health, HUB Patient News
racial violence, coronavirus, COVID-19, BIPOC, BIPOC populations, police killings, DHH Article, coping with trauma, trauma
General Health, HUB Patient News
racial violence, coronavirus, COVID-19, BIPOC, BIPOC populations, police killings, DHH Article, coping with trauma, trauma
Does COVID-19 illuminate healthcare cost hypocrisy in America?
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
Does COVID-19 illuminate healthcare cost hypocrisy in America?
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
Does the pandemic reveal cracks in the American healthcare system?
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
Does the pandemic reveal cracks in the American healthcare system?
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
COVID-19, DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD
Data and Predictions in Healthcare, lessons from the COVID pandemic
DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD, COVID-19
Data and Predictions in Healthcare, lessons from the COVID pandemic
DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD, COVID-19
DHH Podcast, Gary Puckrein PhD, COVID-19

Resources

HubKit

Designed with health equity in mind, HubKits are packed with expert knowledge that give you the information necessary to confidently share in decision-making with their health care providers. Download a HubKit to equip yourself for an equitable conversation with your care team.

HubKit coming soon!

Have feedback for us?

Are there topics you'd like us to cover? How can we better help you?.

Sources

Alysse G. Wurcel, Rubeenn Guardado, Emily D. Grussing, Peter J. Koutoujian, Kashif Siddiqi, Thomas Senst, Sabrina A. Alysse G. Wurcel, Rubeenn Guardado, Emily D. Grussing, Peter J. Koutoujian, Kashif Siddiqi, Thomas Senst, Sabrina A. Assoumou, Karen M. Freund, Curt G. Beckwith. Racial differences in testing for infectious diseases: An analysis of jail intake data. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38117818/#:~:text=Black%20non%2DHispanic%20(25%25),(1.10%2D2.15))%20counterparts.

Marie Rosenthal, MS. Correcting Disparities in Infectious Disease Care. Pharmacy Practice News website. Accessed March 13,  2024. https://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/Policy/Article/05-23/Correcting-Disparities-in-Infectious-Disease-Care/70287

Join Us

We keep our Infectious Diseases patient community informed with the latest news and resources related to health disparities.