Shortening the voiding interval for men having chlamydia nucleic acid amplification tests

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Urine testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in males often requires a significant time since last micturition.
• Advancements in nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) offer high sensitivity for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoea.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of voiding interval on the positivity of urine tests for CT.
• To determine if first-void urine (FVU) testing for CT remains reliable in male patients who have recently urinated.

Main Methods:

• Male patients at high risk for CT infection or known CT positives were recruited.
• Two first-void urine (FVU) specimens were collected from each patient: one standard sample and a second 20 minutes later.
• Samples were tested for CT using the APTIMA Combo2 (AC2) assay.

Main Results:

• Fifty-two CT-positive male patients were analyzed.
• All second urine samples were also CT positive, with no equivocal results.
• Paired t-test analysis showed no significant difference in relative light unit readings between the first and second urine samples (P = 0.127).

Conclusions:

• First-void urine (FVU) testing using APTIMA Combo2 (AC2) reliably detects Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in male patients, even shortly after micturition.
• This validates a more flexible approach to patient management and STI testing in genitourinary medicine clinics.