title: Urine based screening for asymptomatic/undiagnosed genital chlamydial infection in young people visiting the accident and emergency department is feasible, acceptable, and can be epidemiologically helpful.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acceptability and the feasibility of urine based Chlamydia trachomatis screening in asymptomatic young people aged 16-35 years attending an inner city accident and emergency (A&E) department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A&E department in a teaching hospital, in south London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July to November 2001 a urine based chlamydia screening test was offered to 719 consecutive A&E attendees aged 16-35 years and their companions. Participants were given an information sheet and were asked to complete a demographic and sexual health questionnaire. Following informed consent, eligible participants provided first pass urine specimens. Specimens were tested for C. trachomatis using nucleic acid amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the A&E attendees asked, 76.5% (550/719) agreed to participate. Prevalence of genital chlamydial infection was 4.2% (18/432; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5 to 6.6). 12 of the positive participants (66.7%; 95% CI 40.99 to 86.65) were women, of whom seven were Afro-Caribbean. Nine of the chlamydia positive participants (50%; 95% CI 26.0 to 73.9) were aged 25 years. Three of the positive urine specimens were from companions, of whom a total of 143 were screened. All the positive participants were contactable, and were offered treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urine based screening for undiagnosed genital chlamydial infection in the A&E department was acceptable and feasible. The department provides a unique site for screening young patients and companions, men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, St George's Hospital, London, UK. tdeen2000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aldeen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners