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Test systems for diagnostics of urogenital infections

PCR test systems for diagnosing urogenital tract infections are used to detect and identify pathogens causing genitourinary and urinary tract infections at the molecular level. The method is based on the detection of DNA or RNA fragments of pathogens, enabling the detection of infection even with minimal numbers of microorganisms in a sample.

Diagnosis of urogenital tract infections

Depending on the source of infection, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract can be divided into three groups: endogenous infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and nosocomial infections.


Source of infection and routes of transmission

Examples

Endogenous infections

They arise as a result of excessive growth of facultative and opportunistic flora present in the vagina.

Yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Sexual contact with an infected partner.

Gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, genital papillomatosis, HIV.

Nosocomial infections

Medical procedures, examinations, and interventions during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Infection can be transmitted through the cervix to the upper genital tract and cause serious diseases of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs. Infection can be transmitted through contaminated needles or other instruments (such as uterine sounding devices) if hygiene practices are inadequate.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) after abortions or other transcervical procedures, infectious complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Diagnosis of urogenital tract infections requires a comprehensive approach, meaning a definitive diagnosis is made by a specialist based on:

  • patient examination and identification of clinical symptoms;
  • analysis of laboratory test results (microscopic examination of a swab, culture method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Digene HPV test, etc.);
  • instrumental examination results.

One of the laboratory testing methods is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a qualitative and quantitative (Real-Time-PCR) method that allows for the detection of pathogen DNA (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) in biological samples. PCR is a rapid and reliable method for diagnosing infectious diseases. PCR is one of the most effective and frequently used diagnostic methods for identifying pathogens causing urogenital infections. PCR is effective for detecting microorganisms difficult to detect using bacteriological methods, atypical forms of bacteria, intracellular parasites, and microorganisms that can persist in the host body for a long time and cause chronic diseases. Due to its high specificity, PCR allows for species identification of microorganisms (for example, differentiating between related but differently pathogenic species such as Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealiticum) and virus typing (for example, HPV typing to determine the oncogenic risk in the presence of human papillomavirus infection).

A referral for laboratory testing is made only by a specialist physician and only after a patient examination. Laboratory test results should also be interpreted only by a specialist physician, taking into account the identified clinical symptoms and the results of instrumental examinations.