Chlamydia Trachomatis IgG Test

Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) worldwide. Chlamydia Trachomatis can be implicated in a variety of infections among humans. It is one of the common causes of Non-gonococcal urethritis and Cervicitis. It causes Pelvic Inflammatory disease, Salpingitis & Endometritis in females. Among males, it can lead to Epididymitis & Reiter's syndrome. Any sexually active person is at risk of contracting chlamydia since the bacteria can be transmitted via anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Chlamydia Trachomatis can be detected by Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), EIA, and DFA tests.

You don't need any specific preparations for taking this test. Usually, urogenital infections are diagnosed by testing urine or by collecting swab. In case of taking the urine test, you have to make sure you haven't urinated at least one hour before. You need to test pregnant women at least once, including those who are planning to terminate the pregnancy. Samples are taken using a swab from the vagina in women and urine from the urethra in men. For persons engaging in receptive anal intercourse, testing is done by obtaining a specimen via rectal swab.

This test detects antibodies (IgM, IgG, and IgA) produced as an immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection. A positive IgM result indicates recent infection with C trachomatis. However, a negative result does not indicate the absence of C trachomatis as IgM antibodies are sometimes absent in infected individuals. If the result shows the presence of IgG antibody, it indicates active or resolved infection. High IgG presence point to a recent infection, whereas low titers may indicate early infection or cross-reaction. When antibody tests are compared, a 4-fold rise in titer best indicates active infection.

Three NAA test samples are collected for finding the DNA of chlamydia bacteria. These are urine, swab, and DFA. Men are given a collection cup to urinate and women are given cotton swabs to collect specimen. For urine sample, you need first-catch urine of the patient (approximately 20-30mL of the initial urine stream). Patients should not give more than the first-catch in the collection cup to avoid diluting the sample. The patient shouldn't have urinated for at least one hr before providing the sample. Female patients are advised not to have cleaned the labial area before providing the specimen.