Abstract
Endourethral swabs and first-pass urine (FPU) samples from 148 male patients were tested forChlamydia trachomatis by an automated enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Vidas; bioMérieux, France), a direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test (MicroTrak; Syva, USA) and two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.Chlamydia trachomatis was considered present if a specimen was positive by at least two methods. This expanded criterion identified 27 patients (18%) as truly infected. One of the PCR methods was most sensitive for both types of specimen. When the recommended cut-off value of Vidas was reduced by 50%, its sensitivity on endourethral swabs was comparable to that of the DFA test, but the DFA test performed better with FPU. In general, FPU was suitable only for PCR.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Smith TF: Chlamydia. In: Schmidt NJ, Emmons RW (ed): Diagnostic procedures for viral, rickettsial and chlamydial infections. American Public Health Association, Washington DC, 1989, p. 1165–1198.
Bassiri M, Hu HY, Domeika MA, Burczak J, Sevensson L-O, Lee HH, Mardh P-A: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis in urine specimens from women by ligase chain reaction. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1995, 33: 898–900.
Chernesky MA, Lee H, Schachter J, Burczak JD, Stamm WE, McCormack WM, Quinn TC: Diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis urethral infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic men by testing first-void urine in a ligase chain reaction assay. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1994, 170: 1308–1311.
Mahony JB, Luinstra KE, Jang D, Sellors J, Chernesky MA:Chlamydia trachomatis confirmatory testing of PCR-positive genitourinary specimens using a second set of plasmid primers. Molecular and Cellular Probes 1992, 6: 381–388.
Thejls H, Gnarpe J, Gnarpe H, Larsson P-G, Platz-Christensen J-J, Ostergaard L, Victor A: Expanded gold standard in the diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis in a low prevalence population: diagnostic efficacy of tissue culture, direct immunofluorescence, enzyme immunoassay, PCR and serology. Genitourinary Medicine 1994, 70:300–303.
Palmer HM, Gilroy CB, Thomas BJ, Hay PE, Gilchrist C, Taylor-Robinson D: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis by the polymerase chain reaction in swabs and urine from men with non-gonococcal urethritis. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1991, 44: 321–325.
Thomas BJ, Evans RT, Hawkins DA, Taylor-Robinson D: The sensitivity of detectingChlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies in smears by use of a fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibody: comparison with a conventional chlamydial isolation. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1984, 37:812–816.
Chemesky MA, Castriciano S, Sellors J, Stewart I, Cunningham I, Landis S, Seidelman W, Grant L, Devlin C, Mahony J: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis antigens in urine as an alternative to swabs and cultures. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1990, 161: 124–126.
Smith TF, Weed LA: Comparison of urethral swabs, urine and urinary sediment for the isolation ofChlamydia. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1975, 2: 134–135.
Mahony JB, Luinstra KE, Sellors JW, Jang D, Chemesky MA: Confirmatory polymerase chain reaction testing forChlamydia trachomatis in first-void urine from asymptomatic and symptomatic men. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1992, 30: 2241–2245.
Thomas BJ, Gilchrist C, Hay PE, Taylor-Robinson D: Simplification of procedures used to test urine samples forChlamydia trachomatis. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1991, 44: 374–375.
Steingrimmson O, Olafsson JH, Sigvaldadottir E, Palsdottir R: Clinical evaluation of an automated enzyme-linked fluorescent assay for the detection of chlamydial antigen in specimens from high risk patients. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease 1994, 18: 101–104.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tong, C.Y.W., Valentine, C. & Arya, O.P. Comparison of an automated enzyme immunoassay with a direct fluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction for the detection ofChlamydia trachomatis in diagnostic specimens from male patients. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15, 336–340 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695668
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695668