Direct-smear fluorescent antibody cytology as a field diagnostic tool for trachoma
M. C. Wilson, F. Millan-Velasco, J. M. Tielsch and H. R. Taylor
A recently developed direct-smear fluorescent antibody (DFA) cytology
method of detecting chlamydial infection was evaluated in an area where
trachoma is endemic. Four hundred seventy-five children aged 2 to 10 years
were examined, and adequate conjunctival cytology specimens were collected
from 457 (96%). Trachomatous inflammatory changes were observed in 114
(25%) of the children. The DFA cytologic technique has a high specificity
(100%) but a low sensitivity (8%). It offers a number of advantages over
existing laboratory methods for diagnosing trachoma in the field. It is a
rapid, simple, and easily transferred test that has a high specificity.
Although DFA cytology shares the low sensitivity of other laboratory
methods of diagnosing trachoma, we believe its logistical advantages make
it the laboratory test of choice.
