To screen for and diagnose a chlamydia infection
Chlamydia Testing
Chlamydia Testing
Also Known As
Chlamydia Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT or NAT) or DNA Probe
Chlamydia/GC STD Panel
Chlamydia Culture
Formal Name
Chlamydia trachomatis Testing
This article was last reviewed
on
This article waslast modified
on December 12, 2017.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
When To Get Tested?
- For women, yearly screening is recommended if you are sexually active and younger than age 25 or 25 or older and at increased risk for this sexually transmitted disease (STD); when you are pregnant or considering pregnancy
- For men, yearly screening is recommended if you are a man who has sex with men
- When you have symptoms of this STD, such as pain during urination, vaginal discharge and abdominal pain (for women) or unusual discharge from the penis, pain on urination or painful, swollen testicles (for men)
- When a newborn has conjunctivitis
Sample Required?
For women, a swab or brush of cells or secretion from your vagina; for men or women, the initial portion of your urine stream (first-catch urine sample); sometimes a swab of cells or secretion from a non-genital area that may be infected
Test Preparation Needed?
Tell your healthcare provider about any use of antibiotics or, for women, douches or vaginal creams; you may be asked to avoid using these within 24 hours before testing vaginal samples since they may affect test results. Menstruation will not affect results. For a urine sample, you may be instructed to wait one to two hours after you last urinated before collecting the sample. Follow any instructions you are given.
Accordion Title
Common Questions
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How is it used?
Chlamydia testing is used to screen for, diagnose, and verify successful treatment of infections caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the U.S. and can cause serious complications if not treated. Screening for, diagnosing, and treating chlamydia is very important to prevent long-term complications and spread of the infection to others.
Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea) is often done at the same time since the infections caused by these two bacteria can have similar signs and symptoms. These bacteria may be acquired at the same time, and an an individual may have infections with both. A definitive diagnosis is important since the two infections require different antibiotic treatment. Repeat testing is recommended to ensure that treatment has been effective. This is done about three months after a person has completed treatment.
The nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) is the recommended method of testing for chlamydia. NAAT is a molecular test that detects the genetic material (DNA) of Chlamydia trachomatis. It is generally more sensitive and specific than other chlamydia tests and can be performed on a vaginal swab on women, or urine from both men and women, which eliminates the need for a pelvic exam in women.
Besides NAAT, other chlamydia tests include culture, which grows the bacteria, direct fluorescent antibody stain (DFA), and DNA probe, but these are used less commonly since they are less sensitive to detect a chlamydia infection.
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When is it ordered?
Screening
Because many infected people do not have any noticeable symptoms, a number of health organizations recommend regular screening for certain people:
Women
All sexually active women younger than age 25 and sexually active women age 25 and older who are at increased risk should get yearly screening for chlamydia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommend routine screening for these women (the USPSTF says age 24 and younger).
Examples of risk factors for chlamydia infection include:
- Previous chlamydia infections, even if they were treated
- Having STDs, especially HIV
- Having new or multiple sex partners
- Having a sex partner diagnosed with an STD
- Using condoms inconsistently
- Exchanging sex for money or drugs
- Using illegal drugs
- Living in a detention facility
For pregnant women, the CDC recommends screening for chlamydia during the first trimester or first prenatal visit and, for those younger than 25 or who are at increased risk of infection, repeat testing in the third trimester. Pregnant women diagnosed with chlamydia should be retested about 3 months after completing treatment. (See Pregnancy & Prenatal Testing.)
Men
The CDC recommends that men who have sex with men get chlamydia screening at least annually. Health organizations do not recommend routine screening for sexually active, heterosexual men with no symptoms. However, healthcare practitioners may recommend screening to their patients when, for example, there is a high number of cases (prevalence) of STDs in the community.
Diagnosis
Chlamydia testing may also be done when a person’s sex partner has been diagnosed with chlamydia or when a person has signs and symptoms of the infection.
For women, if symptoms occur, they may include:
- Bleeding between menstrual periods and after sexual intercourse
- Abdominal pain
- Painful intercourse
- Painful and/or frequent urination
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
For men, symptoms may include:
- Pus or milky discharge from the penis
- Painful and/or frequent urination
- Pain, tenderness and swelling of the testicles
Both men and women can get an infection in their rectum and may be tested when they have symptoms such as itching, inflammation, pain, discharge and/or bleeding from the rectum. Testing for both chlamydia and gonorrhea may be done when a newborn has symptoms of conjunctivitis, such as redness and swelling of the eye, and discharge.
Women or men treated for chlamydia should be retested three months after their treatment.
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What does the test result mean?
A positive test indicates an active chlamydia infection that requires treatment with a course of antibiotics.
A negative test means only that there is no evidence of infection at the time of the test. It is important for those who are at increased risk to have screening tests performed on an annual basis to check for possible infection, especially since re-infection is common, particularly among teenagers.
If you are infected, your sexual partner(s) should be tested and treated as well.
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Is there anything else I should know?
People who are infected have a higher risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases, including a 3 to 5 times greater risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to it.
Molecular tests are only FDA-approved for use with urine samples or samples from genital sites such as the vagina and penis; they have not been FDA-approved for performance with ocular (eye), pharyngeal (throat), or rectal samples. Individual laboratories may perform molecular testing on these samples, but they are required to validate the methods themselves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the NAAT testing method for chlamydia, except in cases of child sexual abuse in boys or rectal and oral infections in preteen girls. In these cases, culture is recommended.
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How long does it take to get results?
This will depend on where the lab testing is done and the method used to diagnose the infection. Nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) methods can give results in one to a few days. Cultures take longer and results are typically reported in 5 to 7 days.
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Where can I get tested?
Visit the healthfinder.gov webpage Get Tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea to find out where you can get tested. You can input your zip code and find a local testing site.
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How can chlamydia be prevented?
The most reliable ways to avoid infection with chlamydia or any sexually transmitted disease are to abstain from oral, vaginal, and anal sex or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. People who are sexually active should correctly and consistently use condoms to reduce the risk of infection with chlamydia and other STDs.
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How is chlamydia treated?
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat chlamydia. They can cure the infection, but damage from the infection may sometimes be permanent. If symptoms do not resolve after a few days, then you should consult with your healthcare provider. You should refrain from having sex until you have completed your treatment and should be re-tested three months after treatment.
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If I get treated, can I get chlamydia again?
Yes. Even though treatment will cure your infection, you can get it again if you are exposed again. In fact, reinfection is common, according to the CDC.
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Should I tell my partner that I have chlamydia?
Yes, you should tell your sexual partner(s) that you have chlamydia so that they can get tested and treated.
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Chlamydia as seen under the microscope. Image credit: Lance Liotta, National Cancer Institute