Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis in an anonymous and confidential HIV counseling and testing site: feasibility and...

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. The development of nucleic acid amplification tests for C trachomatis in urine specimens allows for screening outside traditional clinic settings. Persons visiting an HIV counseling and testing site may be at increased risk for STDs, including C trachomatis.

To measure the acceptance of C trachomatis urine screening and the prevalence of C trachomatis infection among clients at an HIV counseling and testing site.

Site HIV counselors offered urine C trachomatis screening to clients, administered a questionnaire, and collected urine samples.

Of 808 counseling and testing site clients approached for C trachomatis screening, 572 (71%) accepted. The most common reasons for declining screening were absence of symptoms (33%) and recent STD testing (32%). Men were more likely to accept urine screening than women (risk ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.06-1.62), as were clients who practiced oral sex, had a history of STD, or who had never been screened for STD. Of 560 urine specimens processed, only 8 (1.43%; 95% CI, 0.66-2.91%) were infected with C trachomatis.

Sites offering HIV testing and counseling are a feasible alternative to clinical settings for C trachomatis screening. Prevalence may be too low for screening to be cost effective unless higher-risk subpopulations can be identified.