Demonstration of Chlamydia trachomatis in colposcopic cervical biopsy specimens by an immunoperoxidase method

A total of 31 cervical biopsy specimens were taken from 29 women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic, nine women (11 biopsy specimens) were known to have Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis and 20 women were known to be free of chlamydial infection. The specimens were routinely processed to paraffin wax and stained by an anti-Chlamydia immunoperoxidase technique to localise the organisms. Of the 11 positive biopsy specimens three showed positive staining of elementary/reticulate bodies. In one case the surface endocervical cells showed large inclusions which were packed with chlamydial bodies. The diagnosis of chlamydial infection is difficult to make clinically and in routine cytological and histological specimens but immunoperoxidase staining can clearly identify C trachomatis inclusions in cervical biopsy specimens provided infection is severe.