Cervical cytology and chlamydia trachomatis infection

We found, as have others, a strong correlation between indirect immunofluorescence techniques and cell culture for the diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis infection in material obtained from the cervix. Five epithelial cell types indicative ofChlamydia trachomatis infection (indicator cells) were found in smears in patients with positive immunofluorescence. An attempt to diagnoseChlamydia trachomatis infection in 50 routine smears based on the presence of these indicator cells showed false positives and false negatives so that the diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis still requires confirmation by immunofluorescence or culture techniques. The indicator cells frequently had the same morphometric features as cells seen with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which may explain why some smears revert to normal after patients are given antibiotics.