title: Evaluation of a new commercial microimmunofluorescence test for detection of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia psittaci.
abstract: A new commercial test for chlamydial serology, the MRL-Micro-Immunofluorescent Test (MRL; MRL Diagnostics, USA) was compared with the standard microimmunofluorescence test (MIF) using sera from 246 patients. Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in 46.3% (MIF) and 64.2% (MRL) of sera and Chlamydia trachomatis IgG in 23.2% (MIF) and 25.2% (MRL); Chlamydia psittaci IgG antibodies were found with the MRL in 1% of the sera from a general population and in 17.3% of preselected sera with elevated complement fixation titers. Titers were usually higher with the MRL. IgG titers of > or = 1:512 were detected in only 2% of sera using the standard MIF but in 30% using the MRL. In 16 sera from three Chlamydia pneumoniae culture-positive patients, the diagnosis of acute infection could be confirmed serologically in one with the MRL test but in none with the MIF test, indicating a higher sensitivity of the MRL.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Freidank
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vögele
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000276:immunology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic