Screening for Chlamydial infection in women attending STD clinic by polymerase chain reaction, ELISA and cell cytology.

ABSTRACT

Thirty five female patients with endocervicitis attending STD clinic were studied for the presence of Chlamydial infection by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and Cell Cytology. PCR was found to be positive in 54.2% of patients, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in 25.7% of patients, but cell cytology revealed the presence of inclusion bodies only in 3% of the cases, thereby showing that polymerase chain reaction is a better method for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis than EIA and cell cytology.