Chlamydia Test

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that is passed from person to person based on fluid exchange during sexual intercourse. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections within the United States, and is the most common of those that are bacterial in nature. Chlamydia tests can involve either a sample of the urine or the body fluids where the bacteria (Chlamydia trachomatis) might be present.

The most common exam used to test the urine for the presence of chlamydia is known as the NAAT or nucleic acid amplification test. This test works to locate generic material or DNA from the chlamydia bacteria. This is the most sensitive of all tests used in order to diagnose chlamydia. One example of a nucleic acid amplification test is the PCR or polymerase chain reaction test. Because the results are highly accurate and unlikely to have results that are false positives, this is the test that most physicians use.