Chlamydia results while you wait

The easy to use test, developed by University of Cambridge scientists, works by collecting only the first few drops of urine which carry high concentrations of the bacteria. This makes it easier to detect Chlamydia trachomatis, which can cause infertility in men and women.

The test gives results within the hour - without needing skilled technicians - so allowing immediate treatment and reducing the risk of spreading the infection.

Dr Helen Lee, who led the research at the Diagnostics Development Unit, Cambridge University, said: “We estimate that around 10% of sexually active men under 25 in the UK have Chlamydia and this figure is rising steadily. It’s also worrying that probably half of them do not even know they are carrying this infection with its potential to cause serious health problems.

“Women are three times more likely to be screened for Chlamydia than men but that only tackles half the problem. It’s a bit like building a flood barrier then leaving it open most of the time. If the men are not treated they will continue to re-infect women so feeding a vicious cycle.”

Dr Lee’s research, published by the British Medical Journal today, involved over 1200 men in the UK with average ages between 18 and 29. In nearly eight out of ten cases where the men had Chlamydia but no obvious symptoms the rapid test, called FirstBurst, identified the infection. This compared favourably with other traditional, more expensive tests which involve analysis at a separate laboratory and can take days to produce a result.

“Our test gives a quick diagnosis, allows immediate treatment and so prevents the infection spreading,” added Dr Lee.

FirstBurst‘s unique design allows it to collect just the first 5ml of urine which often carry the highest load of the infection, making detection and analysis much easier.

Nearly all the men (98%) who took part in the research at the Brook in Birmingham and the Ambrose King Centre in London said they found the test easy to use and roughly the same number (96%) were happy to wait an hour for the results. Over three-quarters (76%) said they preferred using it to one of the traditional methods of collecting urine in a cup.

Penny Barber, Chief Executive of Brook in Birmingham, said: “FirstBurst allows us to test and treat immediately which is particularly important these days for many young people who lead such hectic lifestyles.

“And it cuts out the ‘middle man’ if you like because we don’t have to waste precious time sending samples to labs and waiting for results to come back. The test is simple, accurate and effective, which is brilliant.”

Dr Lee’s team has already produced a Chlamydia rapid test for women and are using the same technology to detect the related sight-damaging disease, trachoma. Their development of the Signal Amplification System, which increases the sensitivity of the tests, won them first prize in the Health category of the 2007 Tech Museum Awards in the USA.

Dr Lee, whose work was funded by leading biomedical research charity the Wellcome Trust, added: “Chlamydia is a persistent problem in the UK and America but it also affects many in the developing world where a test which gives almost instant results is incredibly important.

“In some countries patients may have to walk for days just to get to a clinic so they are hardly likely to make the same journey to hear if they have an infection or not. Our rapid tests can give them a quick answer and allow them to be treated straight away.”