Reduced Detection of <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> by the Ligase Chain Reaction Assay due to Suboptimal Storage of Urine

Abstract

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by the ligase chain reaction assay was assessed in urine samples that had been stored at 4°C or at ambient temperature for 6–10 days before freezing and subsequent testing. Six of 67 (9%) samples that had tested positive and were then stored at 4°C, and 5 of 29 (17%) stored at ambient temperature, became negative, a difference that is not statistically significant. Most of the urine samples that were negative after storage contained a small number of chlamydial elementary bodies, and almost three-quarters of them were from women. Optimal pretest storage conditions for urine samples should be maintained if the maximum benefit is to be obtained from this highly sensitive assay.

Citation

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology &amp; Infectious Diseases (2001) Volume 20, Number 8, pp. 581-583 [doi:10.1007/s100960100552]

Reduced Detection of <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> by the Ligase Chain Reaction Assay due to Suboptimal Storage of Urine

Published 1 January 2001