Comparison of direct immunofluorescence and ELISA for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in the patients of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Fifty female patients clinically diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) attending Gynaecology OPD of Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital were studied for the presence of Chlamydial antigen by direct immunofluorescence (DFA) and Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) test. Out of fifty PID patients Chlamydia tracchomatis lipopolysaccharide antigen could be detected in 28% of cases by ELISA and Chlamydial outer membrane protein antigen could be detected in 32% of cases by DFA. Although in the present study DFA and ELISA compare well with each other, but DFA has been found to be more specific test as it detects outer membrane protein antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis.