Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection: a comparison of Papanicolaou and immunofluorescent staining in smears obtained by Ayre's spatula and cytobrush.
Two methods of staining (Papanicolaou versus direct immunofluorescence) and two methods of collection of the samples (Ayre's wooden spatula versus cervical Cytobrush) were compared in order to verify the efficiency in detecting Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections in the female genital tract. Out of 166 asymptomatic patients, 59 were positive for CT by means of direct immunofluorescence: 36 were detected in Cytobrush samples, 16 in Ayre's spatula samples, and 7 in the samples collected by both methods. Papanicolaou smears showed "moth-eaten" features suggestive of CT infection in a great number of metaplastic cells present in 35 cases: 24 collected by Cytobrush, 4 by Ayre's spatula and 7 by both methods. Our data show that Cytobrush is more efficient that Ayre's spatula in concentrating cellular material. It is thus possible to detect CT infection with more accuracy by means of direct immunofluorescence, and to suspect CT infection in smears collected by means of Cytobrush and stained by Papanicolaou's method.
Maeda
M Y
MY
Division of Pathology, Adolfo Luz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
Longatto Filho
A
A
Santos
D R
DR
Cavaliere
M J
MJ
Shih
L W
LW
Oyafuso
M S
MS
De Andrea Filho
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*