Chlamydia/Gonorrhea

Also known as: Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Amplicor® PCR, Chlamydia/Gonococcus, Aptima® TMA, Chlamydia/Gonococcus, LCR, Chlamydia/Gonococcus, ProbeTec™ SDA.

It is estimated that 3 million Americans are infected with Chlamydia, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the US and more common among people 15-25 years of age, each year although this number may be higher. Since many do not experience any symptoms, cases may often go undiagnosed and unreported although over 1 million new cases are reported each year. Diagnosing and treating Chlamydia is very important to prevent long-term complications and the spread of infection to others. Risk factors include multiple sex partners, co-infection or previous infection with another STD, and not using barrier contraception consistently. An infected mother can spread the disease to her infant during childbirth. These infants are in danger of developing conjunctivitis, an inflammation that can threaten sight, and pneumonia.