Chlamydia TestWhen symptoms appear, having the proper Chlamydia test is very important. Chlamydia can resemble gonorrhea, another sexually-transmitted disease, and knowing exactly what the infection is will affect the treatment. The most common Chlamydia test is known as the nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). This test is the current industry standard and can detect the presence of the Chlamydia bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis. Another test that is widely used is the Nucleic acid hybridization tests (DNA probe test) which is accurate, however, not quite as definitive as the NAAT. Chlamydia tests use a sample of blood, urine, or body fluid to determine the presence of the bacterial infection. Preparing for the Chlamydia test includes avoiding douching for 24 hours prior to the vaginal swab test, or avoiding urination for two hours prior to the urine test. A doctor will either swab the cervical or rectal area on a woman, or the penis on a man. A urine test will require a clean catch sample. Chlamydia tests are not highly invasive or painful. Mild discomfort is reported for vaginal or rectal swabbing. There are no side effects reported following a Chlamydia test. Because Chlamydia is known to be a "silent" disease, it is important that a Chlamydia test be routinely performed on sexually active women and men, on a yearly basis.
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