Comparison of four serological assays for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis in subfertile women

Authors

  • Claude Muvunyi Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Laurens Claeys Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Tineka De Sutter Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Petra De Sutter Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Marleen Temmerman Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Lieve Van Renterghem Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Geert Claeys Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Elizaveta Padalko Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.1740

Keywords:

antibody, Chlamydia trachomatis, serology, subfertility

Abstract

Introduction: Chlamydia antibody testing (CAT) in serum has been introduced as a screening method in the infertility workup. We evaluated the test characteristics of two ELISA tests compared to micro-immunofluorescence tests (MIFs).  MIFs are considered the gold standard in the C. trachomatis IgG antibodies detection. We also compared the accuracy of all CAT tests in predicting tubal subfertility, using laparoscopy as a reference.

Methodology: Four commercial serological methods were used to analyse 101 serum samples for the presence of C. trachomatis IgG antibodies from patients at the Infertility Clinic of Ghent University Hospital. The diagnostic utility for prediction of tubal infertility of serological methods was evaluated based on patients' medical records.

Results: A comparison of the serological assays showed  little difference  in the major performance characteristics: the sensitivities of all MIFs and ELISAs were 100% for all assays (except the ELISA Vircell, with a sensitivity of 90%), and the specificities ranged from 92% for MIF Ani Labsystems to 98% for the MIF Focus and ELISA Vircell. As compared to laparoscopy data, CAT positivity in subfertile women with tubal damage (n=40) did not significantly differ from that of subfertile women without tubal damage (n=61): Positive predictive values (PPV) of CAT ranged from 53% to 60% and negative predictive values (NPV) ranged from 62% to 64%. 

Conclusion: evaluated ELISAs are comparable to MIFs in the detection of C. trachomatis IgG antibodies and should be preferred for large serological studies, especially in resource poor settings.

Author Biographies

Claude Muvunyi, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Lecturer Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

Departement of Clinical Biology

Laurens Claeys, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Resident in Clinical microbiology

Department of Clinical Biology

Tineka De Sutter, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Departement of Obstetrics and International Centre for Reproductive Health

Petra De Sutter, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Departement of Obstetrics and International Centre for Reproductive Health

Marleen Temmerman, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Professor of Gynecology and Obtestrics

Departement of Obstetrics and International Centre for Reproductive Health

Lieve Van Renterghem, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Professor of clinical Virology

Department of Clinical Biology

Geert Claeys, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Professor of Clinical Microbiology

Department of Clinical Biology

Elizaveta Padalko, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Associate Professor of Clinical Virology

Department of Clinical Biology

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Published

2011-11-30

How to Cite

1.
Muvunyi C, Claeys L, De Sutter T, De Sutter P, Temmerman M, Van Renterghem L, Claeys G, Padalko E (2011) Comparison of four serological assays for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis in subfertile women. J Infect Dev Ctries 6:396–402. doi: 10.3855/jidc.1740

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Section

Original Articles