EVALUATION OF LAPAROSCOPY AND ENDOCERVICAL SWAB IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION OF THE FEMALE GENITAL-TRACT

A group of 60 consecutive women admitted to the gynaecology department of Eastbourne District General Hospital for pelvic pain were entered into this study. Evidence of C. trachomatis infection of the genital t ract was investigated by detection of chlamydial lipopolysaccharide an tigen in the peritoneal fluid collected from the pouch of Douglas duri ng laparoscopy and in the endocervical swab. The test used was an Enzy me-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Peritoneal fluid was positive i n 11 subjects (18%, P < 0.05), endocervical swab was positive in 3 (5% , P < 0.05). The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01, t wo tailed test at 1% level). Ten women with a positive ELISA on the pe ritoneal fluid had a negative cervical swab, 2 women with a positive c ervical swab had negative peritoneal fluid and in only one woman were both cervical swab and peritoneal fluid positive.