Immunodiagnosis of adult chlamydial conjunctivitis

This study presents data from a prospective comparison of four currently available diagnostic tests for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Seventy-six patients clinically suspicious for chlamydial conjunctivitis were all tested with Giemsa stain cytology, direct monoclonal fluorescent antibody (DFA) microscopy, enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) for chlamydial antigens, and standard McCoy cell culture. When compared with primary cell culture, diagnostic Giemsa inclusions had a sensitivity and specificity of 43 and 100%, respectively, supportive Giemsa cytology 71 and 67%, the enzyme immunoassay 71 and 97%, and the monoclonal fluorescent antibody 57 and 81%. Each nonculture method has distinct advantages in terms of cost, technical difficulty, speed, and accuracy, which dictate selection of the most appropriate test for office or laboratory diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis.