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Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by a ligase chain reaction amplification method
F Rumpianesi1, M Donati, M Negosanti
1Institute of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Background And Objectives:
The ligase chain reaction is an in vitro DNA amplification technique that exponentially amplifies selected DNA sequences.
Goal:
To evaluate a ligase chain reaction assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis cryptic plasmid DNA (LCx Chlamydia) in patients routinely attending a sexually transmitted disease center in Italy.
Study Design:
Urethral or cervical swabs were obtained from 501 consecutive patients (334 men and 167 women). The samples were assayed in parallel with LCx Chlamydia and conventional tissue culture; discordant results were further assayed by direct immunofluorescence and a ligase chain reaction with alternate primers.
Results:
After resolution of discordant results, the LCx method showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100%, 99.3%, 96.7%, and 100% in men; 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% in women; and 100%, 99.5%, 97.1%, and 100% overall, respectively. By comparison, the sensitivity of tissue culture was 81.4% in men, 50% in women, and 77.6% overall.
Conclusions:
The automated LCx method is sensitive, fast, and accurate and represents a useful diagnostic tool for C. trachomatis infection, even in low and medium prevalence populations.