Evaluation of an indirect immunofluorescence assay for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis as a method for diagnosing tubal factor infertility in Mexican women.
To evaluate the clinical impact of the use of an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) against Chlamydia as a method to identify patients with tubal factor infertility (TFI) in a population of infertile Mexican women.


METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis made on 100 patients attending the infertility clinic who underwent laparoscopy. Blood and cervical samples were collected during the clinical examination. The presence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibodies was documented using the IFA test, and the presence of active chlamydial infection was evaluated using the nucleic acid hybridization assay.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity values of the IFA test to identify patients with periadnexal adhesions were 45% and 82%, respectively; and the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 42% and 84%, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 2.5 and 0.7, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The IFA test was not usable for the identification of patients with periadnexal adhesions as a cause of infertility in this population. However, it could be useful as a screening test to decide which patients might receive laparoscopic treatment. Furthermore, it could be useful for identifying patients with active chlamydial infections in the upper genital tract, but a study with a larger sample needs to be done.
Guerra-Infante
Fernando M
FM
Departamento de Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Montes Urales, México, DF, México.
Carballo-Perea
Raul
R
Zamora-Ruiz
Angélica
A
López-Hurtado
Marcela
M
Flores-Medina
Saúl
S
Contreras
Gustavo Miranda
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology; D016387:Women's Health
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G