This test is used to detect Chlamydia trachomatis, which is one of the three species of Chlamydia-bacteria. Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis are the most sexually transmitted infections. In Germany, the number of new-infections is estimated between 300.000 and 500.000 per year. Younger adults (15-25 years), persons with frequently changing sexual partners, sexual partners (also unnoticed and without symptoms) infected persons as well as newborns of infected mothers are most commonly affected. Infections without sexual contact (e.g. in swimming pools) are rare but not impossible.
Chlamydia trachomatis-infections often don't cause any symptoms. But, Chlamydia trachomatis can also lead to symptoms such as eye inflammations, arthritis and inflammations of the urinary tract.
Furthermore, unattended infections often lead to infertility and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancies and premature births. In developing countries, the infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause for the loss of sight of newborns.
Especially during pregnancy, the treatment of Chlamydia-infections is very important. About 50% of the infected mothers pass the infection to the newborn. Frequent complications at newborns are conjunctivitis and pneumonia.
This test is for sampling from the cervix, thus solely for use by women. In case of an infection testing and eventually treatment for (sexual) partners is recommended.
How is the test performed?
The sample has to be taken from the neck of the womb (top end of the vagina) with usage of the attached swab by rotating it for 30 seconds.Dip the swab containing. The sample has to be mixed with the buffer in the sample container by squeezing it out several times against the bottle walls and bottom. After waiting 5 minutes, the sample has to be shacked followed by placing 2 drops of the sample mixture onto the sample field on the cassette. The result can be read off after 15 minutes.
What does the result tell you?
A sample is considered positive if, within the reaction time of 15 minutes, two purple lines appear in the result window (at "C" and "T"), whereas a result is considered negative if there is only one purple line at "C".