title: The usefulness of screening for chlamydial trachomatis infection with cervical mucus leukocyte esterase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the ability of leukocyte esterase dipstick test (LET) performed in cervical mucus to predict direct immunofluorescent (DIF)-verified Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) cervical infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty women with inflammatory cervico-vaginal smear were submitted to both an endocervical smear, to verify Ct cervicitis by DIF technique; and a cervical mucus sample to perform LET. Results of LET and DIF were matched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 30 Chlamydial positive subjects, cervical mucus esterase test was positive in 28 (93.3%); while among 50 Chlamydial negative controls, esterase test was negative in 43 subject (86%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for LET were 93.3%, 86%, 80% and 95% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical mucus LET is a simple, cost effective screening test, with promising accuracy, for Ct cervical infection among women with inflammatory cervico-vaginal smears.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: el-Shourbagy
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: el-Salam
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mohasb
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000201:enzymology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C021443:leukocyte esterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases