Molecular Techniques for HIV and STDs: Implications for Research and Disease Control in the New Millennium

Molecular techniques have gradually shifted the paradigm in the laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections from biological to molecular amplification. It is now possible to combine the sensitivity and specificity of culture with all the convenience of nonculture tests, such as ambient specimen transport, automation, and fast turnaround time. Pathogens that cannot be cultivated in vitro, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), can now be detected and typed to determine if they have oncogenic potential. These powerful tools have improved and will continue to have a significant impact on our ability to design strategies and programs for the control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections worldwide.