PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Thomas, B J
AU  - Pierpoint, T
AU  - Taylor-Robinson, D
AU  - Renton, A M
TI  - Sensitivity of the ligase chain reaction assay for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis in vaginal swabs from women who are infected at other sites.
AID  - 10.1136/sti.74.2.140
DP  - 1998 Apr 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 140--141
VI  - 74
IP  - 2
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/74/2/140.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/74/2/140.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect1998 Apr 01; 74
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity of the ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay for Chlamydia trachomatis in vaginal swabs from women who were positive in cervical samples and/or urines. SUBJECTS: 413 women attending the genitourinary medicine clinic, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. METHODS: The LCR assay was used to test vaginal swabs from 46 women who were C trachomatis positive at one or both of the other sites by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining, by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), or by the LCR assay. RESULTS: The LCR assay of vaginal swabs had the following sensitivity values using confirmed positive results: 93% (41/44) compared with DFA staining of cervical deposits, 93% (41/44) compared with the LCR assay of cervical samples, 93% (28/30) compared with an EIA for cervical samples, 91% (39/43) compared with DFA staining of urine deposits, and 93% (39/42) compared with the LCR assay of urine. Four women had vaginal swab samples negative by the LCR assay; one was positive only in the urine and two had cervical samples containing a small number of chlamydial elementary bodies. CONCLUSION: Testing vaginal swabs by the LCR assay is a sensitive method of detecting chlamydial infection; the results suggest that this procedure could be used as an alternative to examining urines in a screening programme for chlamydial infection in the community.