[Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for detection of chlamydia trachomatis in eye swabs].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical value of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of trachoma.

METHODS

Direct amplication of 16S rRNA gene which is chlamydia-specific by PCR was used to detect chlamydia trachomatis (CT).

RESULTS

Of 93 subjects who conformed to the diagnosis criteria of trachoma, 69 (74.2%) was PCR-Positive; Of 178 subjects who did not comform to the criteia, 6(3.4%) was PCR-positive. PCR had a sensitivity of 74.2% and a speciticity of 96.7% for the clinical diagnosis of trachoma. The difference between trachoma group and nontrachoma group is significant(P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The PCR may be a good method in the diagnosis of ocular chlamydia trachomatis infection because of its excellent sensitivity and specificity.