Comparison of DNA probe, monoclonal antibody enzyme immunoassay, and cell culture for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

摘要

A total of 201 endocervical specimens were obtained from patients with a clinical or epidemiological history suggestive of chlamydial infection. These specimens were tested by DNA probe (Gen-Probe, San Diego, Calif.) and the IDEIA III (Boots-Celltech, Berkshire, United Kingdom) monoclonal antibody enzyme immunoassay and compared with cell culture for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Discrepancies between cell culture and antigen detection methods were resolved by direct fluorescent-antibody testing. In a population with a 17.4% prevalence, the sensitivities and specificities of these assays were 82.8 and 99.4%, respectively, for the DNA probe assay and 97.1 and 98.1%, respectively, for the IDEIA III.