Detection of cervical Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae with deoxyribonucleic acid probe assays in obstetric patients.
OBJECTIVE
The Gen-Probe PACE 2 deoxyribonucleic acid probe assays for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are targeted against the ribosomal ribonucleic acid of each pathogen. Our study compared the performance of the probe assays with culture for Chlamydia trachomatis (246 patients) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (310 patients) while screening obstetric patients.


METHODS
Using culture as a gold standard, we assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the chlamydia and gonorrhea probes.


RESULTS
The prevalence of chlamydia by culture was 13.4% and gonorrhea 4.8%. Against culture, the chlamydia probe assay performed as follows: sensitivity 93.9%, specificity 99.1%, positive predictive value 93.9%, and negative predictive value 99.1%. Values for the gonorrhea probe assay were 93.3%, 99.0%, 82.4%, and 99.7%, respectively. Additional molecular analysis of probe-positive-culture-negative specimens suggests that the gonorrhea probe-positive predictive value may be even higher.


CONCLUSIONS
The Gen-Probe PACE 2 deoxyribonucleic acid probe assays for chlamydia and gonorrhea appear to be promising as convenient, reliable, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional cultures in screening obstetric patients.
Hosein
I K
IK
Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville.
Kaunitz
A M
AM
Craft
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015342:DNA Probes