Cervical sampling for diagnosis of genital chlamydial infection with a new brush device.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a new sampling device, a brush, Accellone-Multi-Instrument (AMI), with a dacron-tipped swab for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens, and to evaluate if consecutive multiple cervical sampling as compared with such a single specimen would increase the sensitivity.


METHODS
501 females attending an STD clinic and 172 females attending a family planning clinic were examined prospectively. Two cervical specimens were collected from each woman. C trachomatis were detected by culture or enzyme immunoassay (IDEIA-III). Positive EIA samples were confirmed by a direct immunofluorescent test.


RESULTS
When cervical specimens were collected with the brush as the first device, 92% of the culture-positive cases were detected, and when the samples were collected with the dacron-tipped-swab first, 84% of the culture-positive cases were detected (p < 0.05). The first collected specimen detected 89% of the culture-positive cases and 81% of those that were positive by IDEIA.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that the AMI brush is superior to non-toxic, dacron-tipped swabs for detection of C trachomatis in cervical samples by cell culture but not by ELISA, and that the sensitivity could be improved by analysing multiple cervical samples.
Svensson
L O
LO
Institute of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Domeika
M
M
Mårdh
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology