PAL assessment in adult inclusion conjunctivitis is typically which result?

• A. Positive
• B. Negative
• C. Not performed
• D. Positive only in VKC

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that PAL assessment is used to detect an infectious conjunctival process, specifically the chlamydial infection that causes adult inclusion conjunctivitis. In this condition, Chlamydia trachomatis is present in the conjunctiva, generating a detectable signal on PAL testing. Because the infection is active and the pathogen or its immunologic footprint is present on the ocular surface, the test result is typically positive. A negative result would be unusual unless sampling was inadequate or antibiotics were already reducing the load. It wouldn’t be expected to be positive only in VKC, since VKC is an allergic disorder without the bacterial antigen presence this test detects.