title: Evaluation of self-taken samples for the presence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women using the ligase chain reaction assay.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and acceptability of self-taken vulval-introital (VI) samples, first-catch urine (FCU) samples and clinician-obtained cervical samples for the presence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women using the ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay. One hundred and four patients were enrolled, of whom 54 patients had chlamydial DNA in at least one of the samples tested. The sensitivity of the cervical sample was 96.3%, vulval-introital sample in LCR buffer 92.6%, vulval-introital swab collected dry 88.9%, FCU stored at +2-8 degrees C 81.5%, FCU stored at room temperature 77.8% and FCU stored with 2% w/v boric acid at room temperature 87.0%. Self-taken vulval-introital LCR samples were shown to be an acceptable alternative to a clinician-obtained LCR sample. The addition of boric acid may overcome the need for a continuous cold chain for FCU samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, University College London Hospitals, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carder
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Broughton
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ridgway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001888:Boric Acids; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D011088:DNA Ligases; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D016353:Self-Examination; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014844:Vulva / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001888:Boric Acids; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011088:DNA Ligases