The Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory (STBRL) is an expanding laboratory that provides reference and specialist services for the bacterial sexually transmitted pathogens, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. STBRL currently provides a full reference service for the identification and typing of N. gonorrhoeae, serological confirmation of T. pallidum, molecular diagnostics for C. trachomatis, T. pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium. Molecular typing for T. pallidum and C. trachomatis is under development.

Established reference services

• Identification of N. gonorrhoeae
• Susceptibility testing of N. gonorrhoeae
• Molecular typing of N. gonorrhoeae for medico-legal purposes or for outbreak control
• Molecular confirmation of N. gonorrhoeae .
• National surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae (GRASP)
• Confirmation and genotyping of C. trachomatis LGV serovars (L1,2,3)
• Serological testing for syphilis
• Molecular testing of genital ulcer disease (T. pallidum and Haemophilus ducreyi)
• Confirmation of C. trachomatis using Real-time PCR.
• Molecular Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium

New Reference Services

• Chlamydia trachomatis Cell Culture Service (see guidelines for more details)

• STBRL Newsletters
• STBRL Publications
• STBRL Contacts
• STBRL User Manual and Accredition Certificates