Chlamydia Test - In Store

The Biopanda Chlamydia Rapid Test is a qualitative, lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of Chlamydia antigen from female cervical and male urethral. In the test, antibodies specific to the Chlamydia antigen is coated on the test line region of the test. During testing, the extracted antigen solution reacts with an antibody to Chlamydia that is coated onto particles. The mixture migrates along the strip to react with antibodies to Chlamydia on the membrane and generates a coloured line in the test region. The presence of this coloured line in the test line region indicates a positive result, while its absence indicates a negative result. To serve as a procedural control, a coloured line will always appear in the control line region, indicating that proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking has occurred.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of sexually transmitted venereal infection in the world. It is composed of elementary bodies (the infectious form) and reticulate or inclusion bodies (the replicating form). Chlamydia trachomatis has both a high prevalence and asymptomatic carriage rate, with frequent serious complications in both women and neonates. Complications of Chlamydia infection in women include cervicitis, urethritis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and increased incidence of ectopic pregnancy and infertility.1 Vertical transmission of the disease during birth from mother to baby can result in inclusion conjunctivitis or pneumonia. In men, complications of Chlamydia includes urethritis and epididymitis. At least 40% of the nongonococcal urethritis cases are associated with Chlamydia infection. Approximately 70% of women with endocervical infections and up to 50% of men with urethral infections are asymptomatic. Traditionally, Chlamydia infections have been diagnosed by the detection of Chlamydia inclusions in tissue culture cells. Culture method is the most sensitive and specific laboratory method, but it is labour intensive, expensive, long (18-72 hours) and not routinely available in most situations.

SENSITIVITY

The Biopanda Chlamydia Rapid Test has been evaluated with specimens obtained from patients from STD clinics. PCR is used as the reference method for the Chlamydia Rapid Test. Specimens were considered positive if PCR indicated a positive result. Specimens were considered negative if PCR indicated a negative result. The results show that the Biopanda Chlamydia Rapid Test has a high sensitivity relative to PCR.

SPECIFICITY

The Biopanda Chlamydia Rapid Test uses an antibody that is highly specific for Chlamydia antigen in female cervical swab and male urethral swab samples. The results show that the Biopanda Chlamydia Rapid Test has a high specificity relative to PCR.