[Use of transcription-based amplification and enzyme immunoassay methods to investigate possible Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women with genital complaints].

This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the female patients with genital complaints, and to compare the transcription mediated amplification assay and enzyme immunoassay methods for the diagnosis of genital C. trachomatis infections. C. trachomatis (Ct) antigens and ribosomal RNAs were researched by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) assay, respectively in the endocervical swab samples of 90 patients. C. trachomatis IgG and IgM antibodies were also screened in the sera of these subjects, by EIA method. Of 90 patients, 18 (20%) were found to be positive for Ct-rRNA, 12 (13%) for Ct-antigen, 20 (22%) for IgG, 12 (13%) for IgM and 14 (16%) for both IgG and IgM. Among the patients 11 (12%) were found positive for Ct-antigen, Ct-rRNA and Ct-IgM antibodies. According to the TMA results, the sensitivity and specificity of EIA-Ct antigen method were estimated as 67% and 100%, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between TMA positivity and those of two EIA methods. In conclusion, the positive results obtained with EIA are reliable for the diagnosis of genital C. trachomatis infections, however the negative results should be confirmed by TMA.