Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection by detection of amplified DNA with an enzyme immunoassay

A sensitive and specific system for detection of amplified Chlamydia trachomatis DNA from cervical specimens by fluorometric quantitation in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) format (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-EIA) is described. The primers selected for PCR-amplified DNA were from the 15 serovars of C. trachomatis and two strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR). One strain of Chlamydia psittaci (Borg) was not amplified. One hundred four previously cultured cervical specimens were evaluated. Forty-six culture-positive specimens containing from 1+ to 4+ inclusion bodies were all positive by PCR-EIA. Of 58 culture-negative specimens, 2 were repeatedly positive and were nonreactive with control probes. This assay system represents a sensitive and specific combination of technologies for the quantitative detection of C. trachomatis DNA directly from a body fluid.