title: Comparison of enzyme immunoassay antigen detection, nucleic acid hybridization and PCR assay in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
abstract: An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) antigen detection system (MicroTrak, Syva), nucleic acid hybridization (PACE 2, Gen-Probe) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (Amplicor, Hoffmann-La Roche) were evaluated for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in a high-risk female population. Of 234 specimens, 42 (18%) were positive. The respective sensitivity of the EIA, RNA hybridization and the PCR was 81, 90 and 88%. When additionally performed on diluted specimens, PCR gave positive results for three of four PCR-negative specimens from EIA- and RNA-hybridization-positive women and a sensitivity of 95%. Thus, both techniques employing gene technology offered a clear improvement in sensitivity over the EIA. Future improvements in the PCR should be directed towards the elimination of polymerase inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miettinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuorinen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varis
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hällström
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity