rss
Sex Transm Infect 2004;80:371-373 doi:10.1136/sti.2003.008359
  • Chlamydia

Liquid based cytology: examination of its potential in a chlamydia screening programme

  1. J Hopwood1,
  2. H Mallinson2,
  3. E Hodgson3,
  4. L Hull2
  1. 1Chlamydia Office, St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead, Wirral, UK
  2. 2Liverpool PHLS Laboratory, University Hospital at Aintree, Lower Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK
  3. 3Histopathology Department, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr J Hopwood
 Chlamydia Office, St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead CH42 0LQ, UK; drjhopwoodaol.com
  • Accepted 7 December 2003

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility of testing for chlamydia directly on a single liquid based specimen (ThinPrep test) collected for cervical screening.

Method: Cervical smears were taken using a Cervex spatula and rinsed in the liquid based cytology collection vial. Following this, the conventional sample for chlamydia testing was taken from the endocervix using an Abbott Collection kit. Cytological specimens were prepared using an automated slide processor. Residual cellular material and the conventional samples were sent to the laboratory where both were tested for chlamydia by ligase chain reaction (LCR). The manufacturer’s protocol for LCR urine testing was modified to substitute 1 ml of PreservCyt suspension.

Results: 581 women had both swab and cytology suspension tested for Chlamydia trachomatis with LCR. There were 19 concordant positive and 562 concordant negative reports. The stability of chlamydia in the cytology suspension was maintained for at least 5 months.

Conclusion: The findings lead us to conclude that samples collected for liquid based cytology using the ThinPrep test collection vial provide a potential platform for chlamydia screening, though the study established several issues to be addressed to make this a practical proposition.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.