Temperature stability of vaginal specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis detection by Amplicor polymerase chain reaction assay.

Vaginal introital specimens were collected from 17 women - 10 positive and 7 negative for Chlamydia trachomatis, and kept in Amplicor collection medium at ambient temperature. Aliquots were removed at intervals for up to 34 days and frozen at -80 degrees C. Samples were thawed and assayed for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results of all specimens remained unchanged over this time interval.