CERVICAL SAMPLING FOR DIAGNOSIS OF GENITAL CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION WITH A NEW BRUSH DEVICE

Objectives-to compare a new sampling device, a brush, Accellone-Multi- Instrument (AMI), with a dacron-tipped swab for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens, and to evaluate if consecutive multiple cervical sampling as compared with such a single specimen wo uld increase the sensitivity. Methods-501 females attending an STD cli nic and 172 females attending a family planning clinic were examined p rospectively. Two cervical specimens were collected from each woman. C trachomatis were detected by culture or enzyme immunoassay (IDEIA-III ). Positive EIA samples were confirmed by a direct immunofluorescent t est. Results-When cervical specimens were collected with the brush as the first device, 92% of the culture-positive cases were detected, and when the samples were collected with the dacron-tipped-swab first, 84 % of the culture-positive cases were detected (p < 0.05). The first co llected specimen detected 89% of the culture-positive cases and 81% of those that were positive by IDEIA. Conclusions-The study indicates th at the AMI brush is superior to non-toxic, dacron-tipped swabs for det ection of C trachomatis in cervical samples by cell culture but not by ELISA, and that the sensitivity could be improved by analysing multip le cervical samples.