DETECTION OF MALE GENITAL-INFECTION WITH CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS AND NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE USING AN AUTOMATED MULTIPLEX PCR SYSTEM (COBAS(R) AMPLICOR(TM))

We evaluated Cobas(R) Amplicor(TM), a highly automated polymerase chai n reaction (PCR) system, to test first-void urine (FVU) and urethral s wab specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in m en attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. Results we re compared against an inhouse radioimmune dot blot (DB) test for C, t rachomatis and selective culture for N. gonorrhoeae. Three hundred and ninety sets of specimens were obtained from 378 consecutive new and r eturned-new patients. Gonorrhoea prevalence was 9.49%, with no signifi cant difference in sensitivity or specificity between culture and PCR. Chlamydia prevalence was 15.4%, with sensitivities of: DB 55%, PCR of FVU 86.7%, urethral swab PCR 90%. The specificity of PCR on FVU and u rethral swabs was 100%. We have shown that Cobas(R) Amplicor(TM) PCR i s highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of chlamydia and gono rrhoea in men attending an STI clinic. Further economic and scientific studies are needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of this techni que for screening in primary care settings.