C. trachomatis detection in infertile women by using a tubal cytobrush during laparoscopy

The significant role played by C. trachomatis infection in tubal infertility has been emphasized by several serological studies, even if many problems related to the aetiologic diagnosis are still unsolved. For several months our routine screening of infertile women has included a non traumatic technique for tubal cell removal during laparoscopy by using a flexible "Fallopian tube brush". The method is suitable both for C. trachomatis isolation on MC Coy cell culture and rapid (4 hrs.), direct detection of C.t. antigens by immunofluorescent test; it rarely provokes bleeding, nor does it cause formation of adherences as later observed in patients who underwent further laparoscopy during GIFT/ZIFT. In addition, it furnished a mean of 50,000 cells/ml and finally removed samples not only from the tubal ostium, but also from the endosalpingeal lumen.