Comparison of the Clearview Chlamydia, the PACE 2 assay, and culture for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from cervical specimens in a low-prevalence population.
The Clearview Chlamydia assay (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, N.J.), the PACE 2 DNA probe assay (GenProbe, San Diego, Calif.), and culture were compared for their abilities to detect Chlamydia trachomatis from cervical specimens in a population with a low prevalence (3.9%) of chlamydial infections. A consensus reference method was used. The consensus reference method defined a positive specimen as one with a positive culture result or positive by both of the two nonculture methods. Of the 940 specimens tested, 37 were positive; 36 were positive by culture, 28 were positive by the PACE 2 assay, and 27 were positive by the Clearview assay, giving sensitivities of 97.3, 75.5, and 72.9%, respectively, and specificities of 100, 97.1, and 98.9%, respectively. There was a direct correlation between the number of inclusion-forming units detected by culture and the ability of the two nonculture methods to detect the positive specimens.
Blanding
J
J
Department of Pathology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92668.
Hirsch
L
L
Stranton
N
N
Wright
T
T
Aarnaes
S
S
de la Maza
L
L
Peterson
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015342:DNA Probes; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015342:DNA Probes