title: Use of APTIMA Combo 2: the experience of a child advocacy center.
abstract: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends nucleic acid amplification testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea in sexually abused girls. No studies describe performance of APTIMA Combo 2 Assay with second target confirmation on the same testing platform. This nucleic acid amplification testing is evaluated within a large child advocacy center. Girls 3 to 18 years, 35% of whom reported consensual sexual activity, were prospectively tested by APTIMA Combo 2 on urine/vaginal swabs and by vaginal culture. A case of infection was defined as positive culture or positive urine or vaginal swab nucleic acid amplification testing with second target confirmation. Sensitivity of APTIMA Combo 2 on urine was found to be superior to vaginal culture and comparable to APTIMA Combo 2 on vaginal swabs for both infections. APTIMA Combo 2 on urine is less invasive, and its use may be preferred in this traumatized population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Safety and Healing, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA. Leder@Nationwidechildrens.org
authors.forename: M Ranee
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Leder
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leber
authors.forename: Mario J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marcon
authors.forename: Philip V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Scribano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000592:standards; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic