Prospective comparison of the Gen-probe PACE 2 assay and the Abbott ligasechain reaction for the direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in a low prevalence population

In a prospective study, the Gen-Probe PACE 2 (GP) assay was compared with A bbott Laboratories' ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. A total of 493 female patients consented to collecti on of two cervical samples; a first-void urine (FVU) sample was collected a lso from 446 of the participants. Cervical samples were tested by both GP a nd LCR; 16 samples (3.1%) tested positive by both methods and no discrepant results were observed. All but one of the FVU samples collected from patie nts with a positive cervical sample was positive for C. trachomatis by LCR, The stability of PW samples over time in the LCR test was also evaluated a nd proved to be significantly longer than the 4 days stated by the manufact urer. While LCR proved to be highly sensitive in detecting chlamydial infec tion in FVU samples, no difference was noted between LCR and GP in the dete ction of cervical C. trachomatis infection in this study population.