Where has all the chlamydia come from? The clinical impact of the introduction of an improved chlamydia test

Abstract

At a time of increasing demands on genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics, the introduction of a new nucleic acid test to a GU medicine clinic has the potential to increase the workload due to increased numbers of patients being identified with chlamydia, and a consequent increase in partner notification. In one clinic setting, we found a doubling in the rates of chlamydial infection following the introduction of a new test, but a concomitant reduction in the rates of non-specific genital infection. The improved specificity of the test has made counselling of patients with chlamydia and non-specific infection much easier. An audit has shown that contact-tracing outcomes are significantly better in patients who are diagnosed with chlamydia.