%0 Journal Article %A Sachdeva, Poonam %A Patel, Achchhe Lal %A Sachdev, Divya %A Ali, Mashook %A Mittal, Aruna %A Saluja, Daman %T Comparison of an in-house PCR assay, direct fluorescence assay and the Roche AMPLICOR Chlamydia trachomatis kit for detection of C. trachomatis %D 2009 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 58 %N 7 %P 867-873 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.008698-0 %K STD, sexually transmitted disease %K PPV, positive predictive value %K NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test %K NPV, negative predictive value %K FISH, fluorescence in situ hybridization %K EBs, elementary bodies %K DFA, direct fluorescence assay %I Microbiology Society, %X To improve the control of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in India, a rapid, specific and cost-effective method is much needed. We developed an in-house PCR assay by targeting a unique genomic sequence encoding a protein from the C. trachomatis phospholipase D endonuclease superfamily that produces an amplified fragment of 368 bp. The specificity of the primers was confirmed using genomic DNA from other sexually transmitted disease-causing and related micro-organisms and from humans. The assay was highly sensitive and could detect as low as 10 fg C. trachomatis DNA. Clinical evaluation of the in-house-developed PCR was carried out using 450 endocervical specimens that were divided in two groups. In group I (n=274), in-house PCR was evaluated against the direct fluorescence assay. The resolved sensitivity of the in-house PCR method was 97.22 % compared with 88 % for the direct fluorescent antibody assay. In group II (n=176), the in-house PCR was compared with the commercial Roche AMPLICOR MWP CT detection kit. The resolved sensitivity of the in-house PCR assay reported here was 93.1 % and the specificity was 97.46 %, making it a cost-effective alternative for routine diagnosis of genital infection by C. trachomatis. The method should facilitate early detection leading to better prevention and treatment of genital infection in India. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.008698-0