Molecular Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis Infections by Probe Hybridization, PCR, LCR,TMA, and Q-β Replicase

The use of cell cultures for the laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections was popularized during the 1970s and 80s (1–4). The techniques required live organisms and were restricted to specialized laboratories. During the 1980s the detection of chlamydia-specific antigens was extensively used and compared to cell culture, provided a less stringent transportation of clinical specimens. Both direct fluorescent antibodies (DFA) and …