Open AccessResources Needed to Culture Chlamydia trachomatis in Laboratories of Clinics for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Author(s) -
Lair G. Rodrigues,
Billie R. Bird,
Stephen J. Kraus
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
sexually transmitted diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.507
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1537-4521
pISSN - 0148-5717
DOI - 10.1097/00007435-198204000-00005
Subject(s) - medicine , chlamydia trachomatis , sexually transmitted disease , chlamydia , family medicine , chlamydia trachomatis infection , chlamydiaceae , gynecology , virology , syphilis , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis may be more prevalent than infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and may have serious sequelae such as epididymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease in adults and conjunctivitis and pneumonia in neonates. A culture of the organism is the most sensitive and specific means for detecting C. trachomatis in the genital tract, yet this procedure is available only in specialized centers and universities. Establishment of a chlamydia laboratory as part of a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) requires major technical and financial resources. Technical resources include the expertise of technicians as well as specialized equipment, glassware, and reagents. The current (August, 1981) minimal cost of performing a chlamydial culture is estimated to be $14.69.