New chlamydia rapid test, pain-free for men

A new urine test developed with funding from the Wellcome Trust will allow doctors to diagnose Chlamydia infection in men within the hour, improving the ability to successfully treat the infection on the spot and prevent re-transmission.

The Chlamydia Rapid Test has received regulatory approval and is on the market in France, where it is used in clinics, and will shortly come onto the market in Spain, Portugal, Italy and a number of other European countries.

It is hoped that the new test will also be of particular use in the developing world, where management of Chlamydia in men is often based on self-diagnosis and specific diagnostic tests are rarely available. A high prevalence of Chlamydia infection amongst sex workers in these countries means that male customers are likely to transmit infection to other sexual partners. The Chlamydia Rapid Test requires minimum instrumentation and does not need to be carried out by a medically-trained professional.