Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in first-voided urine sediments from male urethritis by polymerase chain reaction]

Chlamydia trachomatis was detected from first-voided urine sediments of 97 male patients with urethritis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since urine and urinary sediments only treated with proteinase K inhibited DNA amplification by PCR, DNA was further purified by phenol extraction and concentrated. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2 were used as primers. A DNA fragment of 242 bp specific for C. trachomatis was amplified by PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. The DNA fragment was amplified by PCR in all specimens of urine sediments from 50 patients with Chlamydiazyme-positive urethral swab. In 38 specimens of urine sediments from 47 patients with Chlamydiazyme-negative urethral swab, PCR was negative. The overall coincidence rate between the PCR for detecting C. trachomatis in first-voided urine sediments and Clamydiazyme in urethral swab was 90.7% (88/97). Detection of C. trachomatis from first-voided urine sediments by PCR was considered to be noninvasive and useful for the diagnosis of male urethritis due to C. trachomatis.