Microtest procedure for isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Management of patients potentially infected with Chlamydia trachomatis has been hampered by the cost and time required to perform Chlamydia cultures. To isolate C. trachomatis, we developed a microtiter method that exhibited equal sensitivity but less frequent contamination than our previously used vial-cover slip culture system. In addition, costs and technician time were substantially reduced with the microtest method. Subsequent studies showed that cycloheximide-treated cells were superior to 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine-treated cells in the microtest method and that a subpassage significantly enhanced the sensitivity of the method. The microtest method appears to be a sensitive, rapid, and economical method for isolating C. trachomatis.