Diagnostic Procedures for Detection of Chlamydia Trachomatis Cervical Infections.

Abstract

272 women complaining of vaginal discharge were examined in the outpatient department of LWH and Jinnah hospital Lahore, these included 122 pregnant and 150 non-pregnant. The cervical samples were taken for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by various methods. Gram staining was used as a screening method and to rule out other bacterial and fungal causes. Positivity with this method for chlamydia was 78.68% in pregnant and 85.34% ¡n non- pregnant women. Pap stained cervical smears revealed 18.85% positivity and 21.33% in the non-pregnant group. ELISA was used as the most specific diagnostic method for direct detection of chlamydial antigen from cervical secretions. Reactivity in the pregnant group was 8.19% and in the non-pregnant 12.66%. Results of the three compared and their correlation was found to be significant.