How is LGV diagnosed ?
LGV is difficult to diagnose based on the clinical examination alone. This difficulty is greater when in the context of regions of the world where the incidence of LGV is very low (not many cases). The technique of culturing the base of the ulcer or wound with a cotton or dacron-based swab is only helpful in identifying the microbe responsible in 30 % of cases…not great!! This being said, if the clinical diagnosis and history (travel or high risk partner) are present, and highly suspicious of LGV, the diagnosis may be confirmed by the dosing of anti-chlamydial antibody levels (this is a blood test specific to the microbe responsible for the infection). This type of serological (blood) confirmation requires two samples – the first at the beginning when LGV is suspected and two weeks later (after the symptoms have commenced)..It generally takes two weeks for the antibody levels to rise and be detected in the blood.
