Diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction for Chlamydia detection as determined in a follow-up study

The diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in comparison with that of the culture technique was established in a follow-up study of 32 patients (81 samples) who were treated for a C. trachomatis infection. The PCR was performed with two different sets of primers, a genus-specific primer set directed against the rRNA genes and a C. trachomatis-specific set directed against the common endogenous plasmid. After treatment with doxycycline, all patients became culture negative after 1 week. Results for the detection of C. trachomatis by the PCR were in complete agreement with the results by the culture method of detection, except for one culture-negative sample, which was found to be positive by the PCR. The results indicated that 1 week after treatment, no residual chlamydial DNA was found in the samples. Therefore, the PCR can be used for monitoring infections by chlamydiae.