Comparison of Chlamydia Trachomatis Antigen Detection Rate between Endourethral Swab and Urine Examination

Hong, Suk Chun; Park, Heung Jae; Kwon, Chil Kun

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is known as a major causative microorganism in non-gonococcal urethritis(NGU) in men. We examined two kinds of specimens simultaneously, endourethral swab and urine, in each patient to determine the reliability of these two different specimens for the detection of the Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in male NGU patients using ELISA method. Tota1 273 patients entered this study were divided into two groups according to sampling order of urine and endourethral swab. In group A(141 patients), we took endourethral swab first, then first portion of voided urine was caught. In group B(132 patients), endourethral swab was performed after urine sampling. Twenty five out of 273 patients(9.2%) showed Chlamydia trachomatis antigen positive in endourethral swab sample and 1 out of 273 patients(0.4%) was positive in urine sample. There was no significant difference of antigen positive rate of endourethral swab examination between group A and group B. Our data suggest that examination of endourethral swab is more reliable method for the detection of the Chlamydia trachomatis antigen than urine examination in male NGU patient.