STI-CRC Laboratory Core

STI TM CRC Core Facilities provide biostatistical, laboratory, study design, and other services that are quality-controlled, cost-effective and convenient. These services are supported by the STITMCRC, freeing investigators of the need to set up these assays and equipment in their own labs.

Mission

1. Provide necessary specialized microbiological, serological and other laboratory expertise for investigators performing clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral projects within the STI-TM-CRC.
2. Specific tests to be provided for chlamydia (CT), gonorrhea (GC), and Mycoplasma genitalium (M.gen) include:
   CT: Culture, Aptima TMA, Micro IF serology, Serotyping, Antibiotic susceptibilities, MOMP sequencing (genotyping)
   GC: Culture, Aptima TMA, Auxotyping, Antibiotic susceptibilities, Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and other typing methods.
   M.gen: Culture, PCR.
3. Facilitate the rapid application of new advances in basic sciences or molecular biology to relevant clinical and epidemiological projects within the STI-TM-CRC. Examples will include nucleic acid amplification tests for T. vaginalis and M. genitalium, and HPV-DNA testing using urine specimens.
4. Serve as a national and international reference laboratory and resource for other investigators studying STDs at other STI-TM-CRCs and elsewhere.
5. Maintain a registry of CT and GC strains in Seattle to continue epidemiologic assessment of these organisms, in conjunction with future application of genomics to facilitate clinical and epidemiologic genomics based studies.

• Access to technology services (i.e. microarray, specimen analysis)
• Consultations (i.e. study design, experiment design)