Abstract
The sensitivity of two urine pool sizes versus individual testing, to detect Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infection, was evaluated using the Gen-Probe AMP-CT assay.
Thirty-three (33) known polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive urine specimens were combined with 231 fresh first-catch urine (FCU) samples in 33 groups of four and 33 groups of eight, to make up 4X and 8X pooled samples, respectively. Gen-Probe AMP-CT assay was performed on pools as well as on individual samples at the same time. For the discrepant cases, the known positive samples were diluted 1:4 and 1:8 using the manufacturer's dilution buffer and were retested. Additional positive specimens found among fresh FCU samples were also tested by the Amplicor-PCR assay to confirm their positivity. The sensitivities of 8X pooling, 4X pooling and individual testing were 86.5%, 94.3% and 91.9%, respectively.
The Gen-Probe AMP-CT assay applied to a 4X urine pooling model was highly sensitive and may be useful for a population based screening programme.
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