Evaluation of two serological tests for the diagnosis of chlamydial respiratory disease

Serological tests for chlamydial infection are one of the most frequently u sed methods in the diagnosis of atypical respiratory infections. Use of ser ological tests has implicated chlamydial infections in asthma, arthritis an d coronary heart disease, but the specificity of chlamydial serology tests has been questioned. The immunofluorescence test is the most sensitive and specific serological test available for detection of chlamydial antibodies. This study compares two commercially available immunofluorescent antibody tests. The Ser-oFIA test using purified elementary bodies of Chlamydia pneu moniae, C. psittaci and C. trachomatis, detected 24 cases of acute C. pneum oniae infection, whereas the Spot IF test using whole cell antigen of C. ps ittaci and C. trachomatis, misdiagnosed 20 of these as psittacosis and miss ed four cases.