EVALUATION OF THE SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TEST KIT, AMPLICOR CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS

The sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit, AMPLICOR Chlamydia trachomatis, were examined by the use of purified elementary bodies (EBs), cells having inclusions containing reticulate bodies alone and 20 clinical isolates. The numbers of EB an d inclusion of C. trachomatis at the detection limit were determined t o be approximately 2 to 4 EBs and one inclusion per assay, respectivel y. No reaction occurred for C. psittaci and C. pneumoniae. All clinica l isolates were positively reacted in the PCR assay.