Comparison of the Syva Microtrak enzyme immunoassay and Abbott Chlamydiazyme in the detection of chlamydial infections in women

Abstract

An enzyme immunoassay for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen, Syva Microtrak, was compared with Abbott Chlamydiazyme to evaluate the performance of the Microtrak assay in the diagnosis of chlamydial genital tract infection in women. Duplicate endocervical swabs from 550 women were tested by both methods, and discrepancies were resolved by direct immunofluorescence on pelleted material from the collection tubes. Forty-six specimens were positive by the Syva Microtrak assay (resolved sensitivity, 95%), and 34 specimens were positive by the Chlamydiazyme assay (resolved sensitivity, 79%). The results from this small study suggest that the Syva Microtrak enzyme immunoassay is more sensitive than Chlamydiazyme for the detection of chlamydial antigen in endocervical specimens. This test should be useful for the diagnosis of chlamydial genital tract infection in females.