RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS WITH A NUCLEIC-ACID PROBE INMALE AND FEMALE-PATIENTS

To evaluate a commercially available DNA hybridization test, the Gen-P robe Pace 2 assay (GP) was compared with the Chlamydiazyme (CZ) for th e detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urethral and endocervical spec imens. Samples were collected from 300 persons, including 199 register ed and 43 nonregistered female prostitutes, examined for screening pur poses, as well as 22 male and 36 female symptomatic sexually transmitt ed disease (STD) patients. The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis wa s 7.3% in all persons examined with an infection rate of 20.9% in the nonregistered prostitutes, 2.5% in the registered prostitutes and 13.8 % in the STD patients. The overall concordance of both diagnostic meth ods was 98.7% in all samples examined, 100% in male and 98.6% in femal e samples. Specimens with discordant results were further analyzed by a direct immunofluorescence test (MicroTrak) and by the probe competit ion assay (PCA). All samples only positive in the GP assay could be co nfirmed by the PCA while one result which was positive in the CZ could not be confirmed by any other test. The GP assay was superior to the CZ, when compared with true-positive and -negative results. The data d emonstrate that the GP assay can be recommended as an alternative diag nostic technique to the CZ for Chlamydin diagnosis.