Comparing Two Methods of Detection for Chlamydia trachomatis in Liquid-Based Papanicolaou Tests

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology 2012-08, Vol.138 (2), p.236-240
• Main Authors: LEVI, Angelique W, BECKMAN, Danita, PEI HUI, SCHOFIELD, Kevin, HARIGOPAL, Malini, CHHIENG, David C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia Infections - prevention & control; Chlamydia trachomatis - genetics; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; Cost-Benefit Analysis; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Genital Diseases, Female - diagnosis; Genital Diseases, Female - microbiology; Genital Diseases, Female - prevention & control; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Papanicolaou Test; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vaginal Smears - economics; Vaginal Smears - methods
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/AJCP2B7XQTCNAMJP

This study compared the performance of Chlamydia trachomatis testing using 2 methods: the BD ProbeTec Chlamydia trachomatis Q(x) Amplified DNA Assay (CTQ) on the BD Viper System with XTR technology (CTQ assay) and the Hybrid Capture (HC) 2 assay. A total of 1,054 Surepath and ThinPrep specimens were tested for C trachomatis nucleic acids using the CTQ assay and the HC2 assay. For positive and discrepant C trachomatis test results, confirmatory test for C trachomatis was performed using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Of 1,054 liquid-based gynecologic cytology samples tested for C trachomatis using both assays, 1,041 tested negative on both. In 6 (0.57%) samples, findings were discordant. The CTQ assay and the HC2 assay had sensitivity rates of 100% and 66.7%, respectively, with comparable specificity (99.9%). The positive predictive values were 92.3% and 88.9% with the CTQ and HC2 assays, respectively. In this study, the CTQ assay was found to be more sensitive than the HC2 assay in detecting chlamydial infection; the CTQ assay also demonstrated a higher positive predictive value.