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Published on: August 11, 2012
The usefulness of screening for chlamydial trachomatis infection with cervical mucus leukocyte esterase
M el-Shourbagy1, K M Diab, M Y Abdalla
1Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt.
Objective:
To evaluate the ability of leukocyte esterase dipstick test (LET) performed in cervical mucus to predict direct immunofluorescent (DIF)-verified Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) cervical infection.
Method:
Eighty women with inflammatory cervico-vaginal smear were submitted to both an endocervical smear, to verify Ct cervicitis by DIF technique; and a cervical mucus sample to perform LET. Results of LET and DIF were matched.
Results:
Among 30 Chlamydial positive subjects, cervical mucus esterase test was positive in 28 (93.3%); while among 50 Chlamydial negative controls, esterase test was negative in 43 subject (86%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for LET were 93.3%, 86%, 80% and 95% respectively.
Conclusion:
Cervical mucus LET is a simple, cost effective screening test, with promising accuracy, for Ct cervical infection among women with inflammatory cervico-vaginal smears.
