This is a test to look for evidence of Chlamydia infection.

Chlamydia infections are caused by a bacterium: Chlamydia trachomatis. There are about 3 million new cases of Chlamydia infection every year in the United States, making it the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the country. Many people with the infection do not know that they have it. This infection can be easily treated with antibiotics and cured. If not, it can lead to infertility, pelvic infection, and ectopic pregnancies in women. Men can develop painful genital infections. Men and women with chlamydia infection are at higher than usual risk for getting HIV infection. If a woman has a chlamydia infection while pregnant, the infant can be born prematurely. There is also a risk of pneumonia and eye infection in the infant of an infected mother.

In women, usually a sample of fluid is taken from the cervix. For women and men, testing can also be done on urethral fluid, rectal fluid, or urine. This test is usually performed by ob/gyn healthcare providers for women or primary healthcare providers for men.

For the fluid test, women should not douche or use any vaginal medications or creams for 24 hours before the test. If a urine test is planned, do not urinate for 2 hours before the test.

• Multiple sex partners