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
Km. Doing et al., 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, J MED MICRO, 48(5), 1999, pp. 507-510
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.