FACTORS AFFECTING URINE EIA SENSITIVITY IN THE DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN MEN

Objective-This study examined the effects of four variables on the det ection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine from men by enzyme immunoassa y (EIA). These variables were: symptoms and signs of urethritis, urine polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN), inclusion counts from urethral ch lamydia cell cultures and the time between testing and last voiding. M ethods-Included were patients with and without symptoms and/or signs o f attending the Edmonton Transmitted Disease Clinic. Men were asked to submit a 20 mi volume urine sample. Urethral swabs were collected for gram stain, chlamydia and gonorrhea culture. Results-A total of 318 m en were evaluated of whom 47 had chlamydia. Excluding six men who were coinfected with gonorrhoea, sensitivities and specificities of the Mi crotrak, Chlamydiazyme and IDEIA systems were 78.1% and 99.6%, 75.6% a nd 100%, and 80.5% and 97.8% respectively. Last void time did not affe ct the sensitivity. However, sensitivity was best when applied to men with severe evidence of urethritis. Conclusion-There is evidence that urine EIA could be used to detect chlamydia in men with acute urethrit is but not in those without signs of urethritis.