Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the direct fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of chlamydial infections

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The direct fluorescent antibody test and two culture methods were compared for accurate diagnosis of chlamydial infections. Using the same samples, 109 were found to be positive in the microtitre method with the direct confirmation test without subpassage, whereas 66 were positive in the vial method with Giemsa staining and subpassage. The direct test was evaluated for accuracy using cervical and male urethral specimens. Specimens for culture were obtained prior to sampling for the direct test. For cervical samples the sensitivity of the direct test, with the vial method taken as reference, appeared to be 72.2% with a specificity of 93.5%. With the microtitre method as standard, these values were 55.9% and 91.3%, respectively for females, and for male patients 49% and 95.6%, respectively. For cervical samples, in which sampling for the direct test was carried out prior to sampling for culture, the values were 46.3% and 93.2% respectively. Both culture method and study population influenced the sensitivity of the direct test. According to our findings, the direct test cannot replace the culture method for diagnosis of chlamydial infections.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jones, M. P., Smith, T. F., Houglum, A. J., Herrmann, J. E.: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis in genital specimens by the Chlamydiazyme test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1984, 20: 465–467.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Tam, M. R., Stamm, W. E., Handsfield, H. H., Stephens, R., Kuo, C. C., Holmes, K. K., Ditzenberger, K., Krieger, M., Nowinski, R.: Culture-independent diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis using monoclonal antibodies. New England Journal of Medicine 1984, 310: 1146–1150.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Uyeda, C. T., Welborn, P., Ellison Birang, N., Shunk, K., Tsaouse, B.: Rapid diagnosis of chlamydial infections with the MicroTrak direct test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1984, 20: 948–950.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Stamm, W. E., Tam, M., Koester, M., Cies, L.: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis inclusions in McCoy cell cultures with fluorescein conjugated monoclonal antibodies. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1983, 17: 666–668.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Stephens, R. S., Kuo, C. C., Tam, M. R.: Sensitivity of immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies for detection ofChlamydia trachomatis inclusions in cell culture. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1982, 16: 4–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Yoder, B. L., Stamm, W. E., Koester, C. M., Alexander, E. R.: Microtest procedure for isolation ofChlamydia trachomatis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1981, 13: 1036–1039.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Oriel, J. D., Reeve, P., Powis, P. A., Miller, A., Nicol, C. S.: Chlamydial infection. Isolation of chlamydia from patients with non-specific genital infection. British Journal of Venerai Diseases 1972, 48: 429–436.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Reeve, P., Owen, J., Oriel, J. D.: Laboratory procedures for the isolation ofChlamydia trachomatis from the human genital tract. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1975, 28: 910–914.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hawkins, D. A., Thomas, B. J., Taylor-Robinson, D.: Rapid detection ofChlamydia trachomatis with monoclonal antibodies. Lancet 1984, ii: 38.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brunham, R. C., Paavonen, J., Stevens, C. E., Kiviat, N., Kuo, C. C., Critchlow, C., Holmes, K. K.: Mucopurulent cervicitis. The ignored counterpart of urethritis in men. New England Journal of Medicine 1984, 311: 1–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Adger, H., Sweet, R. L., Schafer, M. A., Schachter, J.: Screening forChlamydia trachomatis andNeisseria gonorrhoea in adolescent males: value of first-catch urine examination. Lancet 1984, ii: 944–945.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Stamm, W. E., Koutsky, L. A., Benedetti, J. K., Jourden, J. L., Brunham, R. C., Holmes, K. K.:Chlamydia trachomatis urethral infections in men. Annals of Internal Medicine 1984, 100: 47–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatovenereology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    K. H. Tjiam, Th. van Joost & E. Stolz

  2. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Therapy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B. Y. M. van Heijst & M. F. Michel

  3. National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    R. V. W. van Eijk & G. J. Tideman

Authors
  1. K. H. Tjiam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. V. W. van Eijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Y. M. van Heijst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. J. Tideman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Th. van Joost
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Stolz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. F. Michel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tjiam, K.H., van Eijk, R.V.W., van Heijst, B.Y.M. et al. Evaluation of the direct fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of chlamydial infections. Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 4, 548–552 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013392

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013392

Keywords

Search

Navigation