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The Article in Brief
Chlamydia trachomatis Testing Sensitivity in Midstream Compared With First-Void Urine Specimens
Derelie Mangin , and colleagues
Background First-void urine specimens are used to test for Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection, whereas midstream urine specimens are recommended for microscopy and culture of presumptive bacterial urinary tract infections. The ability to test for both C trachomatis and urinary tract infection on a single midstream urine specimen would greatly aid primary care practice. This pilot study set out to determine how many positive results obtained on first-void specimens would be missed if a midstream specimen were used.
What This Study Found First-void and midstream urine sampling had similar diagnostic accuracy for C trachomatis testing. Of 100 patients with a first-void specimen positive for C trachomatis, 96 also had a positive midstream specimen.
Implications
- Timing of urine specimen collection may not be as important in testing for C trachomatis as previously thought. If the results of this pilot study are confirmed, midstream urine specimens may be sufficiently equivalent to testing on first-void urine specimens for use in clinical practice as a case finding tool.