title: [Analysis of direct immunofluorescence tests for trachoma diagnosis].
abstract: For the confirmation of trachoma foci in places where no previous cases had been reported, the State Health Secretariat of S. Paulo makes provision for the realization of laboratory exams, particularly because the disease was considered to have been eradicated from the State in the seventies. During the epidemiological investigations, conjunctival scrapings were collected from the subjects with inflammatory trachoma (TF/TI), clinically diagnosed. The results of the immunofluorescence (DFA) exams were analysed in the light of the frequency of the appropriate exams and their positive results, by the quantity of elementary bodies (EB) found. A total of 385 slides were studied, the criteria for positivity being 5 or more EBs. The test's sensitivity was 19.9%. The DFA test is considered to be the best laboratorial exam to be used in field work, though it does not show a sufficient sensitivity to confirm all clinically diagnosed cases of trachoma; it can only confirm the circulation of the aetiological agent within a community. In endemic areas the clinical diagnosis continues to be the criterion for case confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Oftalmologia Sanitária do Centro de Apoio e Desenvolvimento de Assistência Integral à Saúde da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde. São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gentil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caraça
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Melles
mesh_terms: D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014141:Trachoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
vernacular_title: Análise de exames de imunofluorescência direta para o diagnóstico de tracoma.