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What Causes False-positive Results Of PCR Testing For Chlamydia Infection?
Question: My wife aged 43 recently tested positive to urine PCR Chlamydia. Her Urinalysis showed no WBC or pus.
Our GP said the PCR could be a false positive since the urine WBC was negative. Do you agree with this position?
On a note of caution, I requested we be treated with single dose of 1g azithromycin.
Same urine PCR test on me was negative.
I had Chlamydia some 7 years ago which was promptly treated. I do not know if i passed it to my wife or not.
I have been using condom with my wife for say the past 6 years or so and the test was just a routine test that detected the chlamydia.
Now i am worried she could have had the Chlamydia for the past 6 years and what long term effect this may have on her. We already have 4 kids and are done with having babies.
In the past 3 years she had been complaining of Lower Back Pain, and we wonder if there is any relation with it and her Chlamydia infection?
Also, i am concerned could she have had the infection while delivering her last three babies? Her second child was born preterm while the third and fourth wer born normally. None of them had conjunctivitis or pneumonia at birth
Our second child, a girl is 10 years old and currently has severs condition on her right ankle. Could this be Chlamydia infection from her mum related?
How can we know if all our three children are not affected by their mum's chlamydia?
In a summary, what do we need to do to know any long term effect, if any, on my wife, and confirm the kids are okay of this chlamydia issue?
Our GP said the PCR could be a false positive since the urine WBC was negative. Do you agree with this position?
On a note of caution, I requested we be treated with single dose of 1g azithromycin.
Same urine PCR test on me was negative.
I had Chlamydia some 7 years ago which was promptly treated. I do not know if i passed it to my wife or not.
I have been using condom with my wife for say the past 6 years or so and the test was just a routine test that detected the chlamydia.
Now i am worried she could have had the Chlamydia for the past 6 years and what long term effect this may have on her. We already have 4 kids and are done with having babies.
In the past 3 years she had been complaining of Lower Back Pain, and we wonder if there is any relation with it and her Chlamydia infection?
Also, i am concerned could she have had the infection while delivering her last three babies? Her second child was born preterm while the third and fourth wer born normally. None of them had conjunctivitis or pneumonia at birth
Our second child, a girl is 10 years old and currently has severs condition on her right ankle. Could this be Chlamydia infection from her mum related?
How can we know if all our three children are not affected by their mum's chlamydia?
In a summary, what do we need to do to know any long term effect, if any, on my wife, and confirm the kids are okay of this chlamydia issue?
Brief Answer:
I suggest a pelvic exam and swab test for PCR from endocervix
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am Dr. Kakkar. I am a dermatologist and venereologist. I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern.
Chlamydial infections can remain silent for long.
Urine PCR for chlamdia is hightly sensitive and specific and a positive test indicates active infection and hence must be followed by treatment. There is a very low rate of false positive result.
Chlamydia is primarily an infection of cervix and routine urinalysis may be normal. A positive urine pcr is more significant in this case.
The possibility is that she could have been carrying an Old infection that she got from you Or it could be a new infection from a different partner.
Lower back pain is one of the signs of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and I suggest a pelvic exam and a PCR swab test from cervix for chlamydia.
I would also suggest a PCR swab test for gonorrhea since both chlamydia and gonorrhea frequently co-exist silently.
Genital chlamydial infection from mother can be passed on to newborns at the time of birth and may cause either conjuctivitis Or pneumonia only in neonatal period. Not anything later in life.
Regards
I suggest a pelvic exam and swab test for PCR from endocervix
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am Dr. Kakkar. I am a dermatologist and venereologist. I have gone through your query and I have understood your concern.
Chlamydial infections can remain silent for long.
Urine PCR for chlamdia is hightly sensitive and specific and a positive test indicates active infection and hence must be followed by treatment. There is a very low rate of false positive result.
Chlamydia is primarily an infection of cervix and routine urinalysis may be normal. A positive urine pcr is more significant in this case.
The possibility is that she could have been carrying an Old infection that she got from you Or it could be a new infection from a different partner.
Lower back pain is one of the signs of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and I suggest a pelvic exam and a PCR swab test from cervix for chlamydia.
I would also suggest a PCR swab test for gonorrhea since both chlamydia and gonorrhea frequently co-exist silently.
Genital chlamydial infection from mother can be passed on to newborns at the time of birth and may cause either conjuctivitis Or pneumonia only in neonatal period. Not anything later in life.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your response.
The earlier test we did was PCR for both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The Chlamydia was positive and Gonorrhea negative.
We have both since been treated for Chlamydia with single dose of 1g Azithromycin. Treatment was on August 13, 2015.
Based on above should we still do pelvic exam and PCR swab test? Which is more effective swab or urine, or can we do both? Since we just took treatment, how soon do you suggest we do a retest, if necessary?
The earlier test we did was PCR for both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The Chlamydia was positive and Gonorrhea negative.
We have both since been treated for Chlamydia with single dose of 1g Azithromycin. Treatment was on August 13, 2015.
Based on above should we still do pelvic exam and PCR swab test? Which is more effective swab or urine, or can we do both? Since we just took treatment, how soon do you suggest we do a retest, if necessary?
Brief Answer:
I suggest a retest at 2 weeks with urine pcr for chlamydia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I apologize for some delay in my reply.
PCR for chlamydia from Urine is very accurate (almost same sensitivity and specificity) and is considered at par with PCR testing for chlamydia from cervical swab test besides being easy as compared to Cervical PCR.
The point I asked you to do PCR from cervical swab was to eliminate any chances of false positive Urine PCR.
Anyways since you have been already treated with Azithromycin so that is fine.
A negative Urine PCR for Chlamydia after 2 weeks of treatment would ensure adequate treatment.
Regards
I suggest a retest at 2 weeks with urine pcr for chlamydia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I apologize for some delay in my reply.
PCR for chlamydia from Urine is very accurate (almost same sensitivity and specificity) and is considered at par with PCR testing for chlamydia from cervical swab test besides being easy as compared to Cervical PCR.
The point I asked you to do PCR from cervical swab was to eliminate any chances of false positive Urine PCR.
Anyways since you have been already treated with Azithromycin so that is fine.
A negative Urine PCR for Chlamydia after 2 weeks of treatment would ensure adequate treatment.
Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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