title: Direct-smear fluorescent antibody cytology as a field diagnostic tool for trachoma.
abstract: A recently developed direct-smear fluorescent antibody (DFA) cytology method of detecting chlamydial infection was evaluated in an area where trachoma is endemic. Four hundred seventy-five children aged 2 to 10 years were examined, and adequate conjunctival cytology specimens were collected from 457 (96%). Trachomatous inflammatory changes were observed in 114 (25%) of the children. The DFA cytologic technique has a high specificity (100%) but a low sensitivity (8%). It offers a number of advantages over existing laboratory methods for diagnosing trachoma in the field. It is a rapid, simple, and easily transferred test that has a high specificity. Although DFA cytology shares the low sensitivity of other laboratory methods of diagnosing trachoma, we believe its logistical advantages make it the laboratory test of choice.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D014141:Trachoma / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal