Use of a single swab in multi-microbe or flex trans transport medium for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by Roche Amplicor PCR and culture in specimens from two different patient populations.

The Roche Amplicor PCR increased the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis compared with culture in promptly processed clinical specimens from a local clinic (100 and 86.5%, respectively) and in samples with delayed processing transported from distant facilities (100 and 72.7%, respectively). A single swab collected in culture transport medium was used. Two media, Multi-Microbe and Flex Trans, were tested and found to be equally acceptable.