[Nucleic acid hybridization for direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Comparison of a radioactive with a non-radioactive procedure]

Abstract

A total of 234 urogenital specimens were investigated with a radioactive and a nonradioactive rRNA:cDNA-hybridization test for the direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (Gen-Probe, San Diego, Calif.). The results were compared with those yielded by the conventional cell culture technique (McCoy cells). Using cell culture a urogenital C. trachomatis infection could be detected in 37 of 234 patients (15.8%) at two outpatient sexually transmitted disease clinics. Referred to the detection rate, cell culture sensitivity was 83.8% for the radioactive test and 86.5% for the nonradioactive DNA-hybridization test. The specificity of the radioactive test was 94.8% and that of the nonradioactive test, 93.4%.