Evaluation of the NucliSens Basic Kit for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
in Genital Tract Specimens Using Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification of 16S rRNA
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ABSTRACT
We evaluated a new RNA amplification and detection kit, the NucliSens Basic Kit (Organon Teknika), for the detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
in genitourinary specimens. The Basic Kit provides an open platform for RNA amplification and detection and contains isolation reagents for nucleic acid extraction, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) reagents (enzymes and buffers), and a generic ruthenium-labeled probe for electrochemiluminescent (ECL) detection of amplified product. Using freshly purified and titrated stocks of
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
and in vitro-generated RNA transcripts for sensitivity determinations, the Basic Kit detected 1 inclusion-forming unit of
C. trachomatis
, 1 CFU of
N. gonorrhoeae
, and 100 RNA molecules of 16S rRNA for both bacteria. The clinical performance of the Basic Kit was evaluated by testing a total of 250 specimens for
N. gonorrhoeae
by culture and NASBA and a total of 96 specimens for
C. trachomatis
by PCR and NASBA. The Basic Kit detected 139 of 142
N. gonorrhoeae
culture-positive specimens and gave a negative result for 73 of 74 culture-negative specimens, for a sensitivity and specificity of 97.9 and 98.7%, respectively. For
C. trachomatis
, the Basic Kit detected 24 of 24 PCR-positive specimens and gave a negative result for 71 of 72 PCR-negative specimens, for a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 98.6%, respectively. The Basic Kit also detected specimens containing both
N. gonorrhoeae
and
C. trachomatis
, using a multiplex NASBA assay using primers for both bacteria. The NucliSens Basic Kit offers a versatile platform for the development of sensitive RNA detection assays for sexually transmitted diseases.
