Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis by the direct fluorescent antibody test in female Navy recruits

Female Navy recruits at risk for sexually transmitted diseases were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis. The screening method was the direct fluorescent antibody (FA) test. The patients represented all areas of the U.S. Average age was 20.4 years. Patients listed past gynecological infections and current symptoms. The clinical findings of the provider at examination and the results of the direct FA test were correlated. There does not appear to be a reliable office method to predict which patients will have positive FA for Chlamydia. The direct FA test is a good tool to predict infection and institute treatment in high-risk patients.