The UAB Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory was established in 1984 to provide laboratory services to patients at the UAB Medical Center and to support clinical research studies that required detection of mycoplasmas in human diseases. Recognizing the need for specialized diagnostic services for detection of mycoplasmas in clinical specimens, the laboratory was eventually expanded to provide service as a referral laboratory for hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and Canada. Our experience in detection and identification of human mycoplasmas using culture and nucleic acid amplification technology, and performance of in vitro susceptibility testing makes us unique as a microbiology reference laboratory. Our laboratory is licensed by the State of Alabama, certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA). All testing is performed by licensed medical technologists under the supervision of Ken B. Waites MD, F(AAM), Medical Director of the Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory. William Geisler MD, MPH serves as the Research Director of the Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory and together with Prescott Atkinson MD, PhD provide expert clinical consultation in respiratory, systemic, neonatal, and sexually transmitted mollicute infections.
