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. 1995 Oct;33(10):2765–2767. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.10.2765-2767.1995

Improved PCR detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by using an altered method of specimen transport and high-quality endocervical specimens.

J A Kellogg 1, J W Seiple 1, J L Klinedinst 1, E S Stroll 1, S H Cavanaugh 1
PMCID: PMC228572  PMID: 8567922

Abstract

Duplicate endocervical swabs were collected for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by PCR (Roche Diagnostics). One swab was swirled in Specimen Transport Medium (Roche) for PCR testing and discarded. A saline aliquot from the other specimen, sent as a dry swab to the laboratory, was Papanicolaou stained to determine specimen adequacy, and the remainder was PCR tested. Significantly more (24%) PCR-positive results (118 versus 95; P < 0.001) were obtained with the dry specimens than with the swirled specimens when first tested. In addition, PCR-positive results were obtained with 107 (10.6%) of 1,007 microscopically adequate specimens but with only 3 (0.9%) of 341 inadequate specimens (P < 0.001).

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Selected References

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