Detection of chlamydia on meatal swabs
- H Lamba1,
- J L Davies1,
- S M Murphy1,
- M S Shafi2
- 1Patrick Clements Clinic, Central Middlesex Hospital, Acton Lane, Park Royal, London NW10 7NS, UK
- 2Department of Microbiology
- Dr H Lamba, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK
- Accepted 8 March 2001
Editor,—The advent of ligase chain reaction (LCR) and other DNA technologies and their greater sensitivity1 has allowed the possibility of taking samples other than from the urethra in men, including urine samples.2–5
Although urine samples have the advantage of being collected non-invasively, the sensitivity of LCR tests on such samples is less than for urethral samples.2 This may be due to the presence of inhibitors in urine.6 The reduced sensitivity on urine samples may be unacceptable, particularly if testing populations with a high prevalence of chlamydia infection. Furthermore processing of urine samples is more laborious.
It is currently recommended that specimens for the detection of genital Chlamydia trachomatis …
