The Importance Of Obtaining First Catch Urine Samples For Chlamydia Trachomatis And Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Testing
2015, Volume 25, Number 1
Urine specimens are being used with increasing frequency to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in adult and adolescent patients. Urine specimens have advantages because they are non-invasive and easy to collect but these specimens will detect up to 10% fewer infections compared with vaginal and Endocervical swab samples. 1 A contributing factor in the reduced sensitivity of urine specimens relates to confusion about specimen collection for sexually transmitted diseases versus urinary tract infections. Urine collection procedures for these entities are quite different.
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How To Prepare For The Chlamydia Test
A Chlamydia test is done on either a urine sample or body fluid collected from areas like cervix, urethra, eye, rectum or throat.
The following are few to-dos that a person must keep in mind before doing a test:
Urine Sample: Do not urinate for 2 hours before a urine sample is collected. If the body fluid is to be collected from the cervix, a woman should not douche or use vaginal creams and medications for atleast 24 hours before the test.
It is important to note that using antibiotics before the tests may hamper accuracy of the test results. Presence of stool in the rectal sample is another cause why a test may be ineffective.
Why Do I Need A Chlamydia Test
Chlamydia is a very common STD, especially in sexually active people ages 15 to 24. But chlamydia usually doesn’t cause symptoms, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health organizations recommend regular screening tests if your risk of getting chlamydia is high.
If you are a woman or a transgender or gender diverse person with a cervix , you should:
- Get tested for chlamydia at least once a year if you are:
- Younger than 25 and having sex
- Age 25 or older and have a higher risk of getting chlamydia because you:
- Have a new sex partner or more than one partner
- Have a sex partner who is having sex with others
- Have a sex partner with an STD
- Don’t use condoms correctly every time
Regular chlamydia testing at least once a year is also recommended if you:
- Have HIV.
- Are a man who has sex with men or a transgender diverse person with a penis who has sex with men. Test every 3 to 6 months if you or your partner have sex with more than one person, or if you have other sexual behaviors that may increase your risk for getting chlamydia.
The best testing schedule for you may be different than the recommendations. Ask your provider how often you should get tested.
Your provider will order a test if your sex partner has been diagnosed with chlamydia or if you have symptoms. Symptoms of chlamydia may include:
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How Long Do Sti Test Results Take
STI test results can take between five and 10 days. If you have testing done at Planned Parenthood, well contact you ONLY if your results are positive. If this is the case, well give you a call to ask you to come back for follow up. Planned Parenthood does not contact patients if the results are negative. Patients can view negative results in the Patient Portal. If you want to confirm a negative result or want a copy for your records, please call the health center or stop by for a copy.
If the result is positive or inconclusive, we will call you to notify you of the results and ask you to make a follow up appointment to receive treatment or further services. The call also gives you a chance to ask questions.
Summary Of Recommendations And Evidence
The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in sexually active women aged 24 years or younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection . B recommendation.
Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Clinical Summary of the USPSTF Recommendation
Population
note: For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, go to .
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus STI = sexually transmitted infection USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Clinical Summary of the USPSTF Recommendation
Population
note: For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, go to .
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus STI = sexually transmitted infection USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
The USPSTF recommends screening for gonorrhea in sexually active women aged 24 years or younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection. B recommendation.
See the Clinical Considerations section for a description of populations at increased risk for infection.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in men. I statement.
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Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results
It can be helpful to bring questions to your doctor to learn more about your chlamydia test results. Helpful questions may include:
- What is my chlamydia test result?
- Did my test check for any other STDs?
- Do I need any treatment based on my results?
- How can I talk to my sexual partners about chlamydia?
- When should I be tested for STDs and how often?
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Technology And Target Group
Chlamydia often affects young people. In women, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes and create risks for sterility and ectopic pregnancy. The infection can be transmitted from mother to child through childbirth, leading to eye infection or pneumonia in the child.
In Sweden, chlamydia testing is offered in suspected cases, but sexually active individuals not directly suspected of infection are also offered screening tests when they are in contact with health services . In women, chlamydia has been diagnosed primarily by using a combination of specimens from the urethra and cervix, or a combination of urine specimens and cervical specimens. This requires a gynecological examination.
Diagnostic advancements in chlamydia have progressed rapidly in recent years, and it has become increasingly common to use vaginal specimens alone, or urine samples alone. Both of these methods offer the option of self-collection of specimens. This could be a way to increase chlamydia testing, particularly among younger women who might otherwise fail to provide specimens. However, it is uncertain whether urine samples alone yield sufficiently high diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing chlamydia in women.
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When Should I Call My Doctor About A Chlamydia Test
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A chlamydia test is essential to limiting the spread of this sexually transmitted infection. Its especially important to get screened for chlamydia regularly if youre at a higher risk of this STI. Untreated, the infection can cause health problems and you can spread it to your partner. While youre waiting for results and during treatment, avoid having sex. Wait until your provider says its safe to have sex again. Be sure to use a condom and practice safe sex to avoid getting an STI.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/28/2022.
References
Can A Urine Test Detect Stds
Urine tests can detect a variety of STDs and urine tests are becoming more easily available to those who need to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Urine tests are may be used to test for the presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea and are much less invasive than receiving a swab sample collection. This is good news for those who are putting off getting tested due to the thought that they may need to get a swab sample collected or get their blood drawn.
It is so important to regularly get screened for sexually transmitted diseases due to the fact that the majority of STDs do not have any symptoms so it is easy to pass them onto your loved ones.
Taking a urine test makes it easier for those who want to screen for sexually transmitted diseases, whats more, it is possible to get tested from the comfort of home.
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Seven Chlamydia In Home Test Options
Think seven at-home chlamydia test options is too much? We certainly dont think so! After all, chlamydia is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At myLAB Box, we recognize that everyone is different and all consumers have special interests and needs. Truthfully, thats why myLAB Box offers a variety of testing options.
Design And Fabrication Of The Mobinaat Cartridge
Computer-assisted drawing software was used to construct a prototype enclosure that incorporates an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller and motor shield, a rotary actuator , thermal incubators and optical components . All components were designed and assembled using PMMA sheets and acrylic adhesive solvent where necessary. A pair of cylindrical NdFeB magnets was affixed on each of the spoke tips to provide permanent magnetic fields for particle manipulation.
The software for the mobile app was developed using Android Studio . In relation to the processing module, the app operates as a serial communicator that initiates various pre-programmed routines on the microcontroller via Bluetooth communication. The mobile app was designed to provide three components: a training module for naïve operators main routine which operates the processing module and performs data acquisition data viewer with signal processing algorithm to differentiate positive from negative samples. A Samsung Galaxy S3 was used as the mobile device for this study.
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During And After The Test
When you have a urine STI test, it is usually during a regular appointment. You will be asked to pee into a sample collection cup or tube. That tube or cup will be given to one of the medical staff.
Your urine sample will then be sent out to a lab or tested at the clinic. You can leave as soon as you are done giving the sample or when your appointment is finished.
What Are Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common sexually transmitted diseases . Both are typically asymptomatic , caused by bacteria, and have high prevalence across the United States. Chlamydia is one of the most widespread STDs in the United States, with the CDC estimating that 3 million cases occur annually. Rates of gonorrhea have been increasing sharply over the past 5 years, and certain strains are becoming antibiotic resistant.
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Example Of This Test In Action
NAATs are incredibly sensitive methods of detecting whether a bacteria or virus is present in a biological sample. When it comes to detecting genital herpes in a sore from a person who has symptoms, these tests serve as a viable alternative to viral culture. Viral cultures can be difficult for some laboratories to perform.
Unlike herpes blood tests, a NAAT still involves the direct determination of whether a virus is present in the sample rather than looking for anti-herpes antibodies.
Nucleic-acid amplification has also allowed for an expansion of chlamydia and gonorrhea screening around the country. Now such screening can now be done on urine samples instead of requiring a urethral or cervicovaginal swab. It has thus become easy to test large numbers of young men and women for these STDs in a variety of both clinical and non-clinical settings. Collecting urine requires no medical expertise. People are also more likely to be willing to pee in a cup than undergo a genital swab.
Researchers have also used NAATs to get more information about the extent of the problem of asymptomatic STDs in the United States. Large-scale NAAT-based screening programs have been implemented in the military, in urban teenagers, in men who have sex with men, and in other high-risk and low-risk groups. These tests allow for the detection of STDs in the small urine or blood samples that are often taken as part of large research studies on population health.
More Information About Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Testing
What are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacteria. Chlamydia is caused byChlamydia trachomatis bacterium it is a common STD in the United States with more than 3 million new infectionscontracted annually. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which thrives in themoist areas of the reproductive tract including the cervix, uterus and Fallopian tubes in women, and the urethrain both men and women. Gonorrhea can also grow in the mouth, throat, anus and eyes. The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention reports over 700,000 gonorrhea infections in the U.S. annually. Both infections areoften considered âsilentâ or asymptomatic infections, meaning they do not always show symptoms. The only way toknow for sure if you are positive for either of these sexually transmitted infections is to take an STD test forthem. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are curable and can be treated with antibiotics.
How do you test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?
STDcheck.com offers the FDA-cleared Nucleic Acid Amplification test, the medical goldstandard in chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. Our NAA test looks for traces of the infection in a small urinesample.
How are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea transmitted?
Who needs Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing?
Why do I need to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea together?
How soon can I get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea after exposure?
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How Will I Get The Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Result
You will receive a notification email informing you that your results are available. This email will contain a link to the secure communications area where your results will be available. Please read the email for important information associated with the login process. Once you have successfully logged into the secure communication area, additional instructions will be available to guide you to the appropriate area to view, print and/or save your results.
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Can You Test Positive For Chlamydia And Not Have It
If a test is very good at finding the disease, it will always find that person. However, if it’s not perfect at detecting people who don’t have the disease, then several people will test positive who don’t have it. Since there’s only one truly infected person, there are more false positives than true positives.
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Can Chlamydia Affect My Fertility
A chlamydia or gonorrhea infection may cause inflammation or scarring of the reproductive organs. Sometimes, this may lead to infertility . Both men and women can experience fertility problems after a chlamydia infection. Your risk of infertility increases if you delay treatment.
Women with untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can also develop a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease . PID sometimes causes your reproductive organs to swell, triggering chronic pelvic pain and making it difficult to conceive.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also trigger early laborâand pregnant women with chlamydia can spread the infection to their babies during delivery .
Prompt treatment reduces your risk of complications, as undiagnosed chlamydia may put your health at risk. Regular STI testing can help with early diagnosis of the infection, and most people who receive treatment for chlamydia make a full recovery.
Learning more about the different types of STDs someone can getâlike chlamydiaâcan help you care for your sexual health. To easily check for chlamydia from the comfort of home, simply collect a urine sample and send it to a lab with prepaid shipping using the Everlywell at-home Gonorrhea and Chlamydia test kit.
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Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
NAAT tests find out the genetic material of Chlamydia bacteria. A positive test implies that the problem exists. A false-positive test is a false alarm that only appears to detect a disease or condition when infact the disease is not present.
A Polymerase Chain Reaction test is a type of Nucleic Acid Amplification test. It is conducted on a urine sample. The NAA test is a molecular test that detects the genetic material of Chlamydia Trachomatis. It is the most accurate and specific test than those others available for detecting Chlamydia. It can be performed on a vaginal swab on women, or urine from both men and women. Women need not go through any pelvic exam for a NAA test.
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Appendix: Key Questions Reviewed By The Work Group And Member Responsible For Literature Summary
Performance Characteristics
- Does the sensitivity and specificity of available tests for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae vary with respect to anatomic site from which the specimen was collected and/or specimen type?
- Joan Chow, DrPH, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California
- Katherine Whitaker, PhD, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland
Screening Applications
- What specimen types are optimal for of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae screening purposes?
- Charlotte Gaydos, DrPH, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Sarah Guerry, MD, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, California
- Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, Indiana
Economic Considerations
What Do The Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Test Results Mean
A positive test result means that Chlamydia or Gonorrhea bacteria are present and you have an infection. Sometimes you may have both types of infection. If you have a positive result, your health care provider will prescribe treatment with antibiotics.
State laws often require that health care providers report the names of people who have these infections to the health department. This allows the state health department to monitor for outbreaks and for infections that are becoming resistant to the usual antibiotics.
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