title: Re-testing for chlamydia at sexual health services in Australia, 2004-08.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the frequency of the 3-month test for re-infection among sexual health service patients in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the re-testing rates at 30-120 days after chlamydia infection in men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexual males and females attending sexual health services across Australia between 2004 and 2008. A χ(2)-test was used to determine significant differences in re-testing rates according to demographic characteristics and trends over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 5-year period, 10207 MSM, 28530 heterosexual males and 31190 heterosexual females were tested for chlamydia. Of those tested, 9057 (13.0%) were positive. The proportion of patients with chlamydia infection who were re-tested in 30-120 days was 8.6% in MSM, 11.9% in heterosexual males and 17.8% in heterosexual females. Among MSM, chlamydia re-testing rates were lower in men aged <30 years (8.4%) than ≥30 years (12.5%) (P=0.04) and lower in travellers and migrants (2.9%) than non-travellers (9.9%) (P=0.002). In heterosexual males, chlamydia re-testing rates were lower in men in regional and rural areas (10.5%) than metropolitan areas (13.5%) (P=0.017). There was no increasing trend in re-testing rates between 2004 and 2008 (P=0.787). Of the patients re-tested, 44.1% of MSM were positive, 21.0% of heterosexual males and 16.1% of females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high chlamydia positivity at 30-120 days support recommendations that call for a 3-month test for re-infection following a positive test. The low re-testing rates highlight the need for innovative strategies to increase re-testing.
authors: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2034, Australia. Rguy@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Guy
authors: Handan
authors: H
authors: Wand
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Franklin
authors: Christopher K
authors: CK
authors: Fairley
authors: Marcus Y
authors: MY
authors: Chen
authors: Catherine C
authors: CC
authors: O'Connor
authors: Lewis
authors: L
authors: Marshall
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Grulich
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Kaldor
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Hellard
authors: Basil
authors: B
authors: Donovan