Development and evaluation of a multi-antigen peptide ELISA for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis related infertility in women.

This study aimed to develop a highly specific serological assay for chlamydial tubal factor infertility in women that could be used to recommend direct progression to IVF treatment for women who are positive. Women were recruited from a variety of settings including; women seeking fertility treatment, sexual health and GP consults, or antenatal care (n=259). The serological assay was developed using sera from a large group of women by using infertile MIF positive women with tubal damage as the positives compared to infertile, or acute infection, and/or fertile controls (negatives). The new multi-peptide ELISA was highly specific for the detection of tubal factor infertility (p=0.011) compared to another ELISA (p=0.022) and MIF (p=0.099). The sensitivity of the assay should be improved before clinical utility. Potentially a two-step testing protocol could be used during the initial infertility investigation where MIF followed by a highly specific ELISA could be used to recommend direct progression to IVF for women who are positive. PMID: 27430220 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: J Med Microbiol Source Type: research