PEDIATRICS Vol. 74 No. 2 August 1984, pp. 224-228
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Direct Fluorescent Monoclonal Antibody Stain for Rapid Detection of Infant Chlamydia trachomatis Infections

Thomas A. Bell MD, MPH1, Cho-chou Kuo MD, PhD1, Walter E. Stamm MD1, Milton R. Tam PhD1, Richard S. Stephens MSPH1, King K. Holmes MD, PhD1, and J. Thomas Grayston MD1

1 From the Departments of Epidemiology, Pediatrics, Pathobiology, and Medicine, University of Washington, and Genetic Systems Corp, Seattle

A method of direct fluorescent antibody staining for rapid diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in infants is described. This method utilized a fluorescein-conjugated species-specific monoclonal antibody to C trachomatis for detecting chlamydial elementary bodies in smears of the conjunctiva, nasopharynx, oropharynx, anus, and vagina. The sensitivity of direct fluorescent antibody staining was compared with isolation of the organisms in McCoy cells. Thirty-nine infants with purulent conjunctivitis were studied. Diagnosis of C trachomatis conjunctivitis was correctly made by smear in all 16 infants when inflamed eyes were sampled. Positive smears were obtained from 12/14 culture-positive and 4/16 culture-negative nasopharyngeal specimens from infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis. All nasopharyngeal cultures and smears from infants with nonchlamydial conjunctivitis were negative. These results indicate that the direct smear test is a sensitive and specific test for diagnosing C trachomatis infection of the eye and nasopharynx in infants, and this test can be completed within one hour of specimen collection.

Key Words: Chlamydia trachomatis infection • immunofluorescent monoclonal antibody test

Submitted on August 21, 1983
Accepted on October 28, 1983