Chlamydia infection laboratory findings

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of Chlamydial infection and its complications include:^[1][2][3][4]

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of Chlamydial infection and its complications include:^[1][5][3]

Other diagnostic tests that may be used to diagnose chlamydia infection include the following:

• Gold standard for diagnosing chlamydial infection^[11][12]
• Test of choice in cases of sexual abuse in boys^[8]
• Used for urogenital specimens (from males) and extragenital sites such as rectum and pharynx (males and female)^[8]
• Highly specific
• Limitations include long incubation period, live cell culture requirement, specific transport methods

• Used for diagnosing acute inclusion conjuctivitis in neonates^[13]
• Detects typical intracytoplasmic inclusions using giemsa stain
• Insensitive for diagnosing adult conjuctival and genital infection

Tests based on antigen detection tests include the following:

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATS)^{[4][13][14][15][16]}

• These include PCR, ligase chain reaction, and transcription-mediated amplification of RNA
• FDA-approved for vaginal and urinary specimens^[8]
• Not FDA-approved for usage on extragenital sites and urogenital specimen in boys.
• Higher sensitivity and specificity than culture
• Test of choice: use vaginal or cervical swabs or first-void urine in women. In men, use urethral swab or first-void urine. Female patients can collect their swab as it has the same sensitivity in comparison to a clinician collecting it.^[17]
• Most sensitive tests: vaginal swabs for women, first-void urine for men.^[17]
• Rectal and oropharyngeal swabs can also be performed.^[17]

Less accurate antigen detection tests

• Nucleic acid hybridization tests
• Enzyme immunoassay
• Direct fluorescent antibody assay

• FDA-cleared for conjuctival and nasopharyngeal specimen testing^[8]
• Highest sensitivity and specificity for neonatal conjuctivitis

Serological tests that may help in diagnosis of chlamydial infection include:^[11]

Microimmunofluorescence (mif) assay

• Detect species-specific antibodies
• Gold standard for chlamydia serology

Complement fixation tests

• Used for diagnosing chlamydial respiratory infection
• Replaced by microimmunofluorescence (mif)

Template:WikiDoc Sources