Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in endocervical specimens using direct immunofluorescence.

A monoclonal antibody specific for Chlamydia trachomatis (Syva MicroTrak) was used to stain endocervical smears from three groups of women. When compared with results from tissue culture, direct specimen results showed 100% (15 of 15) sensitivity and 95% (164 of 172) specificity. The eight specimens with MicroTrak-positive/culture-negative results were probably true positives. Because the direct specimen test method takes less than an hour to complete, is easy to read with a fluorescence microscope, and is much less expensive than culture methods, it could become the rapid screening tool that is urgently needed in young, sexually active women.