title: An assessment of the current Chlamydia trachomatis laboratory practices in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, no information is available about the number of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) tests performed, testing facilities available or diagnostic methods used in Germany. This study aimed to map CT diagnostic facilities so that representative laboratories can be recruited for CT sentinel surveillance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a questionnaire, we collected information about population coverage, the number of tests performed, accreditation and current testing methods and systems for German facilities that potentially offer CT diagnostics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 725/1,504 (48%) facilities responded; of the respondents, 143 reported that they perform CT diagnostics. Of the laboratories performing diagnostics, 45% were privately owned, and 42% were located in a hospital. Of the laboratories that provided information about their catchment area, 61% received samples from at least one federal state and therefore covered more than their surrounding area. The median length of time that CT diagnostics had been performed was 11.5 years. Over half (54%) of the laboratories that provided information on their accreditation status were accredited, for a median duration of 6 years. In accordance with national guidelines, 77% used nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for acute CT infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long duration since Ct diagnostics have been performed and laboratories have been accredited can be seen as an indication of the high diagnostic quality of German laboratories. Additionally, laboratories mostly serviced doctors and patients from a large region and are not representative for people living in the area where the lab is located. This has to be considered when sampling representative labs for CT sentinel surveillance and further epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Päschke
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamouda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reischl
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haar
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires