StandardizingChlamydia pneumoniaeAssays: Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) and the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (Canada)
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 15 August 2001
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 33 (4), 492-503
- https://doi.org/10.1086/322632
Abstract
Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerosis and several other chronic diseases, but reports from different laboratories are highly variable and “gold standards” are lacking, which has led to calls for more standardized approaches to diagnostic testing. Using leading researchers in the field, we reviewed the available approaches to serological testing, culture, DNA amplification, and tissue diagnostics to make specific recommendations. With regard to serological testing, only use of microimmunofluorescence is recommended, standardized definitions for “acute infection” and “past exposure” are proposed, and the use of single immunoglobulin (Ig) G titers for determining acute infection and IgA for determining chronic infection are discouraged. Confirmation of a positive culture result requires propagation of the isolate or confirmation by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four of 18 PCR assays described in published reports met the proposed validation criteria. More consistent use of control antibodies and tissues and improvement in skill at identifying staining artifacts are necessary to avoid false-positive results of immunohistochemical staining. These standards should be applied in future investigations and periodically modified as indicated.Keywords
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- Chlamydia pneumoniaeSerology: Interlaboratory Variation in Microimmunofluorescence Assay ResultsThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2000
- Collaborative Multidisciplinary Workshop Report: Detection, Culture, Serology, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing ofChlamydia pneumoniaeThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2000
- Editorial Response: The Role ofChlamydia pneumoniaein AtherosclerosisClinical Infectious Diseases, 1999
- Antibody Response toChlamydia pneumoniaeInfection in Children with Respiratory IllnessThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1998
- Chlamydia pneumoniaeAntibody Titers Are Significantly Associated With Acute Stroke and Transient Cerebral IschemiaStroke, 1998
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in pediatric community-acquired pneumoniaThe Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 1995
- Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease in the Helsinki Heart StudyAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1992
- SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF AN ASSOCIATION OF A NOVEL CHLAMYDIA, TWAR, WITH CHRONIC CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTIONThe Lancet, 1988
- An Epidemic of Mild Pneumonia Due to an Unusual Strain of Chlamydia psittaciThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1985
- The Genus-Specific Antigen of Chlamydia : Resemblance to the Lipopolysaccharide of Enteric BacteriaScience, 1983