Comparison of the Effectiveness of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Enzyme Immunoassay in Detecting <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> in Different Female Genitourinary Specimens

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction on urine alone or urine plus cervical cells is superior to EIA on combined cervical and urethral swabs. There is a slight advantage of adding cervical cells to the urine compared with the urine specimen alone when PCR is used as the assay for detection. The total inhibition rate in our female population is only 3.1% when PCR is used.