Combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and squamous intra-epitheliallesions using a single liquid-based cervical sample

Cervicitis is believed to alter cytological interpretation and could compro mise a combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) cervicitis and squ amous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL). Liquid-based cytological methods have been shown to limit obscuring factors and permit the detection of infectio us agents by DNA amplification techniques. The aim of this study was to eva luate a combined screening for SIL and CT cervicitis with a single liquid-b ased cervical sample. METHODS: Two cervical samples were obtained from each of 590 women considered at high risk for CT. The modified Ligase chain rea ction (LCR) procedure for CT detection using specimens collected in the Aut oCyte's preservative fluid was compared with the conventional Abbott LCx me thod using cervical swabs. We have also compared the percentage of inflamma tory specimens and adequacy of cellular material in the populations of CT and CT- women. RESULTS: The results show total agreement for 588 of 590 ce rvical samples using the two LCR protocols (Kappa = 0.96; 95% confidence in terval: 0.91-1.00). The quality of cervical cytology was not compromised by CT cervicitis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility of combined sc reening for CT and SIL with a single liquid-based cervical sample.