Julius Schachter, PhD

Biography

Julius Schachter, PhD

Dr. Julius Schachter is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at University of California, San Francisco. He is the Editor of the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases. His current research focuses on the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of chlamydial infections, as well as the evaluation of newly developed diagnostic methods for chlamydial infections. Dr Schachter has published more than 500 articles on his studies of Chlamydiae. His former appointments included Director, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Chlamydiae from 1978-2003; Chair, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diagnostic Initiative of the UNAIDS Programme from 1997-2001; and President of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association from 1996-2002.

New Swabs for Novel Anatomic Collection Sites in MSM

Symptomatic and asymptomatic men who have sex with men (MSM) attending an STDclinic are being evaluated for the infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. First catch urine specimens are being collected and tested for the presence of these organisms using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Rectal and oropharyngeal swabs are also being collected and tested. In the study being performed to evaluate the use of the Copan flocked swab in this setting we are collecting rectal and pharyngeal specimens from the MSM using standard dacron swabs as well as with the flocked swab. The specimens are then tested by the Aptima® Combo2 assay (Gen-Probe, Inc., San Diego, CA) and the BD ProbetecT ET assay (Becton, Dickinson & Co., Sparks, MD) for the presence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae. To determine whether the Copan flocked swab actually collects a larger microbial load than does the dacron swab, all positive specimens are being diluted from the swabs' collection medium to see whether the endpoints for NAAT positivity differ by swab type. Preliminary results of the study were presented.