The pilot programme currently running in the Cook Islands to test for sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia and gonnorhea, will go some way towards identifying other STD's.
The programme is run by the Cook Islands health ministry with support from the Pacific Community and the Asian Development Bank.
Dr Aumea Herman, who is the Director of Community Health Services, says the testing which will be offered to men and women aged 15 to 30 could also identify other major diseases.
"This is why this is an important project, is the link to other sexually transmitted infections, as well as HIV/Aids which we know is impacting severely on a lot of countries globally."
Dr Aumea Herman says the ministry is looking to extend the 12-month pilot programme to some of the Cook Islands outer islands.
