Comparison of the Abbott RealTime CT new formulation assay with two other commercial assays for detection of wild-type and new variant strains of Chlamydia trachomatis

J Clin Microbiol. 2010 Feb;48(2):440-3. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01446-09. Epub 2009 Dec 9.

Abstract

In an analytical-method comparison study of clinical samples, the Abbott RealTime CT new formulation assay (m2000 real-time PCR), consisting of a duplex PCR targeting different parts of the cryptic plasmid in Chlamydia trachomatis, was compared both with version 2 of the Roche Cobas TaqMan CT assay, comprising a duplex PCR for a target in the cryptic plasmid and the omp1 gene, and with the Gen-Probe Aptima Combo 2 assay (AC2) targeting the C. trachomatis 23S rRNA molecule. First-catch urine samples from Sweden were tested in Malmö, Sweden, for C. trachomatis with the m2000 real-time PCR assay and with an in-house PCR for the new variant C. trachomatis strain with a deletion in the cryptic plasmid. Aliquots of the urine samples were sent to Aarhus, Denmark, where they were further examined with the TaqMan CT and AC2 assays. A positive prevalence of 9.1% (148/1,632 urine samples examined) was detected according to the combined reference standard. The sensitivities and specificities of the three assays were as follows: for the Abbott m2000 assay, 95.3% (141/148) and 99.9% (1,483/1,485), respectively; for the Roche TaqMan assay, 82.4% (122/148) and 100.0% (1,485/1,485); and for the Gen-Probe AC2 assay, 99.3% (147/148) and 99.9% (1,484/1,485). The plasmid mutant strain was detected in 24% (36/148) of the C. trachomatis-positive samples. There is a difference in sensitivity between the new formulations of the Abbott and the Roche assays, but both assays detected the wild-type and new variant C. trachomatis strains equally well.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sweden
  • Urine / microbiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic