How sensitive is the Papanicolaou smear in the diagnosis of infections with Chlamydia trachomatis?

Fifty-three patients who presented to the sexually transmitted disease clinic at Boston City Hospital had simultaneous cervicovaginal Papanicolaou smears and cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis taken prior to the initiation of antibiotic therapy. Eleven of the chlamydial cultures had positive results. None of the Papanicolaou smears satisfied the morphologic criteria for the diagnosis of chlamydial infection. This suggests that the Papanicolaou smear is an insensitive technic for the diagnosis of chlamydial infection of the cervix.