[Follow-up after treatment of genital chlamydia infection]

We surveyed routine practice among a random sample of 302 Norwegian general practitioners. 49% perform a test of cure in all the patients whom they treat for genital infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. 22% of the practitioners test "most" patients, 19% test "some" patients while 10% of the general practitioners test none of the patients after treatment for genital chlamydial infection. Female practitioners perform more tests of cure than male practitioners do. Most tests are performed 1-4 weeks after completion of treatment. Although test of cure has been a controversial topic, we believe it to be a useful measure against the epidemic of genital chlamydial infections. The purposes of the test are to establish whether or not the treatment has been effective and ensure that the patient has not been reinfected by a partner who did not receive treatment. The test of cure must be performed later than two weeks after completion of treatment, in order to avoid false positive tests as a result of residual chlamydial antigen in the genitalia.