DNA methods should be used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis

BMJ 1998;317:1525 ( 28 November )

Letters

DNA methods should be used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ We agree with the comments¹ on Boag and Kelly's editorial² about the recommendations made by the chief medicalofficer's expert advisory group on Chlamydia trachomatis. We wishto raise anotherissue.

The laboratories associated with the genitourinary medicine clinics in the two pilot projects evaluating the proposed screeningwill use molecular procedures (ligase chain reaction or polymerasechain reaction) and not the less sensitive tests (enzyme immunoassays)used by most laboratories testing for C trachomatis in Englandand Wales. Support exists for this proposal.³ However, theuse of the most sensitive tests should extend beyond this. About30% of women, symptomatic or asymptomatic, with C trachomatisinfection attending genitourinary clinics have small numbers oforganisms in cervical specimens.⁴ As most clinics rely on enzymeimmunassays the infection will not be diagnosed in most of thesewomen. We calculate, on the basis of about 500 000 women attendinggenitourinary . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Maybe best test but very high costs will lead to restrictions on testing: Alan Herring
bmj.com, 10 Feb 1999 [Full text]
Testing for chlamydia: Carolyn Thompson
bmj.com, 12 Feb 1999 [Full text]