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. 1998;6(5):224–229. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-0997(1998)6:5<224::AID-IDOG7>3.0.CO;2-9

Performance of a commercial polymerase chain reaction test for endocervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a university hospital population.

C H Livengood 3rd 1, K A Boggess 1, J W Wrenn 1, A P Murtha 1
PMCID: PMC1784812  PMID: 9894178

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the accuracy of a commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (Amplicor CTR, Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg NJ) for identification of endocervical chlamydial infections through both laboratory evaluation and among a diverse teaching hospital patient population. METHODS: Testing of reliable threshold inocula and reproducibility were carried out using laboratory stock organisms. Paired endocervical samples from patients with a wide range of indications were tested by PCR and an established culture procedure, and discrepant pairs were further analyzed to determine true results. RESULTS: Laboratory evaluation suggested that one copy of target DNA from a viable organism consistently yielded a positive result, and test reproducibility was very good, with an overall coefficient of variation of 15%. Compared to true results in 1,588 paired clinical samples from 1,489 women with a 10% prevalence of infection, the PCR test and culture yielded respective sensitivities of 87.4% and 78.0%, and negative predictive values of 98.6% and 97.6%. Specificity and positive predictive value for both tests were 100%. Cost per specimen was nearly identical at $18.84 and $18.88 respectively. Polymerase inhibitors and organisms lacking target DNA were not found in false-negative PCR samples. CONCLUSION: This commercial PCR test is accurate, cost-competitive, and much faster than culture for diagnosis of endocervical chlamydia infections in our population of intermediate prevalence of chlamydial infection.

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Selected References

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