Rapid homogeneous PCR assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine samples.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease and a major public health problem worldwide. Fast and sensitive point-of-care diagnostics including non-invasive sample collection would be of value for the prevention of C. trachomatis transmission. The aim of this study was to develop a fast, reliable, non-invasive and easy-to-use homogenous PCR assay for the detection of C. trachomatis. Bacteria were concentrated from urine by a simple and fast centrifugation-based urine pretreatment method. Novel automated GenomEra technology was utilized for the rapid closed-tube PCR including time-resolved fluorometric detection of the target using lanthanide chelate labeled probes. We have developed a rapid C. trachomatis assay which provides qualitative results in 1 h with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 98.7% and 97.3%, respectively. The novel assay can be performed with minimal laboratory expertise and without sophisticated DNA-extraction devices and has performance comparable to current gold standard assays.
Lehmusvuori
Ari
A
Department of Biotechnology, University of Turku, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland. artule@utu.fi
Juntunen
Etvi
E
Tapio
Antti-Heikki
AH
Rantakokko-Jalava
Kaisu
K
Soukka
Tero
T
Lövgren
Timo
T
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000652:urine; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial