This laboratory protocol describes a fully standardized and integrated diagnostic workflow for the detection of major sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV-1/2, Treponema pallidum, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Chlamydia trachomatis, and HSV-2. The workflow combines rapid immunochromatographic tests, non-treponemal and treponemal assays, hemagglutination testing, and ELISA-based antibody and antigen detection into a coherent algorithm. The protocol is aligned with ISO 15189 and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations and is specifically designed to be feasible in resource-limited laboratories. It includes detailed pre-analytical requirements for blood collection, transport, and storage; standardized step-by-step procedures for each assay; internal and external quality assurance components; troubleshooting guidance; and recommendations for data management and sample traceability. This integrated approach aims to optimize diagnostic yield, ensure reproducibility, and support large-scale epidemiological studies or routine diagnostic activities in low-income settings where access to molecular testing is limited.
Copyright: © 2026 Ramamonjiarisoa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.