The Infectious Diseases Laboratory (IDL) has provided research support services for multiple investigators as well as clinical diagnostic services for multiple healthcare facilities since 1983. The IDL is a Core Laboratory Facility for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and has developed its own research agenda participating in research trials of new technologies for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted pathogens and developing novel assays to meet the needs of research collaborators.
Some of the assays investigators studied have become standard diagnostic techniques that are now in widespread use. In addition to the main laboratory, the CTSI Core Laboratory includes a laboratory under the direction of Darron Brown, MD, that provides sophisticated diagnostic services specifically focused on human papillomavirus (HPV).
The IDL has the following competencies:
- Current testing for STD is performed using the latest technology available for the clinical community.
- Ability to develop and implement new assays for the detection of both bacterial and viral infectious disease pathogens.
- Expertise in the execution of clinical studies to evaluate and validate new instrumentation and assays for diagnostic and research purposes.
- A novel DNA extraction method from paraffin embedded tissue, when used with an assay for Human Papillomavirus to identify up to 37 distinct types.
