Washington State University has introduced rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through a new machine installed at Cougar Health Services. This development allows for quicker testing results for chlamydia and gonorrhea, reducing the wait time from up to three days—previously required when samples were sent to an external lab—to just half a day on campus.

According to information from WSU, historically, students have contributed to Whitman County having one of the highest rates of STIs in Washington State. However, Whitman County Public Health reported a decrease in the local STI rate, which dropped from the highest to the third highest in the state last year.