Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis IgG and IgA antibody in gynaecology inpatients as determined by serum indirect immunoperoxidase assay.

Chlamydia trachomatis is common; at times the organism acts as a pathogen and can cause significant disease. Specific detection has always been difficult in a clinical setting and a variety of new tests have been developed for this purpose. The local prevalence of the infection is not well known nor are its significant associations. The serum of 98 patients in a gynaecology ward was assayed using an immuno-enzyme technique (indirect immunoperoxidase assay). Infection was detected in 59% of patients overall, compared with 87.5% of patients with pelvic inflammatory disease and 39.1% of pregnant patients. The statistical associations are discussed.