An application of fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies to the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in children.

A method for rapid identification of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) from clinical specimens using fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies was evaluated. Attempts to isolate C. trachomatis by McCoy cell cultures were simultaneously performed. C. trachomatis was isolated from 8 of 62 newborns with neonatal conjunctivitis in tissue culture as compared with 12 positives using monoclonal antibodies. C. trachomatis was isolated from 2 of 7 infants with pneumonia in tissue cultures as compared with 3 positives using monoclonal antibodies. In order to identify either elementary bodies (EB) or reticulate bodies (RB) in clinical specimens, EB and RB of C. trachomatis L2/434 strain were isolated, purified and reacted with monoclonal antibodies. Majority of fluorescence observed in the clinical specimens was considered to be EB.