GLYCOGEN ASSAY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF FEMALE GENITAL CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS INFECTION

Chlamydia trachomatis can synthesize glycogen at various stages in its developmental cycle, The glycogen content of female genital epithelia l cells was detected by anthrone, and the results were compared with t hose from PCR, A total of 320 cervical samples were examined. Of 92 sp ecimens that were positive by PCR, 78 were positive and 14 were negati ve by the glycogen assay, Of 228 specimens that were negative by PCR, 220 were negative and 8 were positive by the glycogen assay, The sensi tivity and specificity of the glycogen assay obtained from these data were 84.8% (78 of 92) and 96.5% (220 of 228), respectively. Use of the glycogen assay to detect the glycogen content in genital epithelial c ells may be helpful in the diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection, This is an easy, fast, and inexpensive assay and can be done in Less-sophi sticated labs.