Vaginal Swabs Are the Optimal Specimen for Detection of Genital Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae Using the Cobas 4800 CT/NG Test

In Brief Performance characteristics of the Cobas 4800 CT/NG assay were estimated for vaginal swab samples from more than 4000 women. Vaginal samples identified 92.9% and 98.5% of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections, respectively, which was more than any other single specimen type (endocervical swabs or urine) regardless of collection method (clinician collected or self-obtained). The excellent performance characteristics of the Cobas 4800 C/NG assay using vaginal samples is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation that vaginal swabs be used for routine sexually transmitted infection screening.