title: [Comparison of cytology and ELISA in the research on cervical Chlamydia infection].
abstract: Papanicolaou smears from 100 woman with ELISA Chlamydia-positive (42) and negative (58) endocervical smears were examined. Chlamydial endocellular inclusions were found in 3 ELISA positive and 2 negative smears, with an evident low sensitivity (7%) of cytology in the diagnosis of the endocervical infection. Furthermore, by statistical analysis it is clear that a negative test doesn't add anything to the pre-test probability (prevalence) of the infection. On the other hand a positive pap-smear adds a poor information, if compared with immunoenzimathic assay and IF staining. Thus, the Papanicolaou smear can't be considered of diagnostic value for Chlamydial infection. Furthermore, it proves unsuitable even for screening programs on high-risk patients, concerning which the immunoenzymatic assay appears, as previously affirmed, the most suitable effort.
authors.affiliation: Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana (VI), Università degli Studi di Roma, Ospedale S. Anna.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calzolari
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Serpieri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masciangelo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steffè
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciampaglia
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Scopelliti
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vallania
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manzari
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
vernacular_title: Citologia ed ELISA a confronto nella ricerca della Chlamydia cervicale.