Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection of semen specimens by ligase chain reaction

Diagnostic potential of the Chlamydia trachomatis ligase chain reaction system (LCx) to assess the presence of C. trachomatis in urine and semen specimens was evaluated. Paired urine and semen specimens from 153 asymptomatic male partners of subfertile couples attending our Center for Reproductive Medicine were examined by LCx. As controls, 19 semen samples from four donors who were participating in the programme for artificial insemination were used. Of these, 12 samples had previously been shown to be C. trachomatis-positive by an in-house PCR. C. trachomatis was detected by LCx in seven of 153 (5 %) urine samples. None of the 153 semen samples tested positive by LCx. Also, none of the 12 C. trachomatis-containing control semen samples were positive by LCx. By in-house PCR, seven urine specimens and two of 153 (11 %) semen samples tested positive. The corresponding urine samples of these male partners were also C. trachomatis-positive, as well as the 12 C. trachomatis-containing samples from donors. In conclusion, LCx is not sensitive enough to assess the presence of C. trachomatis in semen specimens; therefore, this method is not recommended to routinely screen semen specimens from donors who participate in programmes for artificial insemination or male partners of subfertile couples for C. trachomatis.