[Detection of chlamydia trachomatis in urine, vulval and cervical swabs].
BACKGROUND
Increased testing rates for Chlamydia infection among young women can be achieved by more use of self-administered sampling methods. In this study, vulval swabs and urine are compared to conventional cervix samples.


METHODS
Vulval swabs, urine and cervix samples from 541 young, healthy women were tested for Chlamydia by polymerase chain reaction technique.


RESULTS
The prevalence of Chlamydia infection was 4.1% (22/541). The sensitivity (cervix 22/22, urine 21/22 and vulva 21/22) and specificity (no false negative results) were high for all sampling sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Urine samples or vulval swabs can replace conventional cervix swabs for the detection of Chlamydia.
Avdeling for epidemiologisk forskning, SINTEF Helse, 7465 Trondheim. inger.bakken@sintef.no
Inger Johanne
IJ
Bakken
Harald
H
Bratt
Finn Egil
FE
Skjeldestad
Svein Arne
SA
Nordbø
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014844:Vulva / Q000382:microbiology*