Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigens in urine as an alternative to swabs and cultures.
By using commercially available spectrophotometric and immunofluorescent immunoassays, Chlamydia trachomatis antigens were detected in first-void urine (FVU) sediments from 224 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic at a frequency of 81.6%-86.8% compared with 86.8% (33/38) positive by urethral swab culture (P less than .05). Endocervical cultures from 228 women attending a gynecology clinic yielded 92.3% (12/13) positive compared with 61.5%-76.9% for urine samples in three antigen-detection assays. Culturing urine from either gender yielded low positivity rates (23.7% for men, 15.4% for women). Defining truly infected patients as positive by culture or by any two of the three antigen tests, all assays were 100% specific. Immunodiagnostic testing of male FVU sediment appears to be a reliable, rapid, nontraumatic method for diagnosing chlamydia infection.
McMaster University Regional Virology and Chlamydiology Laboratories, St. Joseph's Hospital; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
M
M
Chernesky
S
S
Castriciano
J
J
Sellors
I
I
Stewart
I
I
Cunningham
S
S
Landis
W
W
Seidelman
L
L
Grant
C
C
Devlin
J
J
Mahony
D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000652:urine*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial