New Rapid Test Developed to Detect Chlamydia

An international team of scientists has developed an easy-to-use test for chlamydia that gives results in less than 25 minutes and will cost as little at 70 U.S. cents in developing countries.

The "Firstburst" dipstick test detects chlamydia bacterium in urine samples from men and from a vagina swab for women. The test will first be used in clinics, but lead researcher Dr. Helen Lee of the University of Cambridge-England said she hopes eventually women will be able to test themselves. "It is simple enough for women to do that but in the first instance it needs to be used in inner-city clinics and primary health care centers," she said.

Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs; testing is crucial since it is often asymptomatic. Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics but left untreated can lead to serious complications including infertility. World Health Organization statistics show about 92 million new cases of the STD were recorded in 1999. Annual costs of chlamydia treatment are about $3.5 billion in the United States and $65 million in Britain.

"It's vital that the test is instant and not expensive," Lee said. "If [you're] living in a country where you have to walk for several hours or even a day to get to a clinic, it's extremely unlikely you would bother to make the return trip a week later to get the result of a check-up."

The researchers are talking with various companies about handling sales and distribution of the tests. Lee hopes it will eventually be produced in developing countries.

Dr. Ted Bianco, of the Wellcome Trust charity that funded the research, said in a statement, "The dipstick is one of a new generation of rapid tests which can revolutionize diagnostics and aid the timely provision of treatment for those most in need."

Back to other news for December 17, 2003