infections
Chlamydial Infections
Diagnosis of Chlamydial Infections
ForC. trachomatis, nucleic acid amplification tests ForC. pneumoniae, culture or nucleic acid amplification tests ForC. psittaci, blood tests or polymerase chain reaction testing C. trachomatisis best identified by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) done on urine samples and on vaginal swabs. NAATs are used to look for an organism's unique genetic material, its DNA or RNA (which are nucleic acids). NAATs use a process that increases the amount of the bacteria's DNA or RNA so that it can be more easily identified. C. pneumoniaeis diagnosed by doing NAATs or by taking swabs from the back of the throat and growing the organism in cell culture in a laboratory. C. psittaciis suspected mainly in people who had close contact with birds, usually parrots or parakeets, and also in veterinarians and workers in turkey and duck processing plants. Doctors confirm the diagnosis by doing blood tests to detect antibodies, and certain laboratories are equipped to do the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. For PCR, a sample of blood is used. The PCR technique increases the amount of the bacteria’s DNA and thus enables doctors to identify the bacteria more rapidly. Because chlamydial genital infection is so common and because many infected women have no or only mild symptoms, tests to screen for chlamydial infection and other STIs are recommended for certain sexually active adolescents and adults. For information, see Screening for Chlamydia . 