RELIABILITY OF CERVICAL FINDINGS AND ENDOCERVICAL POLYMORPHONUCLEAR CELLS IN DETECTING CHLAMYDIAL AND GONOCOCCAL CERVICITIS IN YOUNG-WOMEN RECEIVING CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES

The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity (SN) specifici ty (SP), and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of cer vical findings including mucopurulent discharge, cervical ectopy, fria bility, and endocervical polymorphonuclear cells per field (PMN) on Gr am's stain in detecting chlamydial and gonococcal cervicitis in 134 yo ung women (mean age 17.6 +/- 1.46 years) receiving contraceptive servi ces. Presence of all three cervical findings was a very good diagnosti c indicator of chlamydial cervicitis (SP 99%, PPV 75%). On Gram's stai n, >5 PMNs per field was a moderately good screening test for gonococc al (SN 75%, NPV 96%) and chlamydial cervicitis (SN 79%. NPV 95%). Grea ter than 20 PMNs per field was the best cutoff point to diagnose chlam ydial infection (SP 97%, PPV 57%). Thus, cervical findings and endocer vical polymorphonuclear cells are helpful screening and diagnostic ind icators of chlamydial and gonococcal cervicitis in young women receivi ng contraceptive services at an urban clinic.