Chlamydia trachomatis infection monitoring with cytomorphology, direct immunofluorescence and "in vitro" growth method.

The increased occurrence of genital infections from Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) suggested the need for a simple, rapid, sensitive method for detection of Ct. The purpose of the present study was to select symptomatic or asymptomatic women through two fast screenings: Pap-test and direct immunofluorescence (IF) test with monoclonal antibody. From 1,816 cervical cytology samples, 32 (1.76%) were selected for intracytoplasmic inclusions pathognomonic of Ct infection. Only 19 women underwent a check-up. The direct IF gave positive results in ten cases out of 19 (52.63%), and culture in eleven (57.89%). A correlation was made between the direct IF test and culture and also between cytologic and colposcipc findings. We thus conclude that direct IF, for its specificity, sensitivity, easy execution and low cost, could be currently utilized when clinical signs or Pap smears are suggestive of Ct infections.