The comparison of cell culture, hybridization and direct flourescent antibody tests in chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis

The importance of the comprehensive studies on Chlamydia trachomatis, which is an important cause of sexually transmitted diseases, increases day by day. There is no sufficient data on the condition of the infections in Turkey. The detailed studies on this matter will contribute newly developments on diagnosis of chlamydia infections. The studies on the sensibility and specifity of the current methods still continue and the discussions for determination of the efficient test to be used in microbiology laboratory are carried out In our study, we have compared the cell culture, which is accepted as gold standart, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, which is an antigen detection method utilized in rapid diagnosis and PACE 2 CT/NG, which is a high sensitive and specific hybridization test. We have determined 11 positive results and %11 prevelance in the endocervical swab cell culture obtained from 100 infertile women. Respectively, the sensibility of the DFA and hibridization tests are determined as %54,5 and %81,8, the specifity is determined as %98,9 and %88,8. Consequently, the cell culture keeps its importance in C. trachomatis detection if adequate sample is obtained. We have reached the result that hybridization test is acceptable especially as a screening test if applied together with confirmation tests, due to its low sensibility DFA test could be utilized in C. Trachomatis diagnosis if it is made by an experienced personnel in laboratories where samples and facilities are limited Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis, DFA, hybridization test, cell culture.