Chlamydia and gonorrhea screen (Edmonton/Central/North)

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Test Name:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea screen (Edmonton/Central/North)

Synonyms:

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG)
STI
Trachoma (Chlamydia infection)

Testing Prerequisites:

Provision of relevant clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
Always provide the:
• Specimen source
• Clinical history
• Ensure patient consent is obtained prior to requesting this test

Collection Device/Tube Type:

APTIMA Multitest swab specimen collection kit
APTIMA unisex swab specimen collection kit
APTIMA Urine Collection Kit
Hologic (Gen-Probe) APTIMA specimen collection kits:

Collection Instructions:

*To prevent cross-contamination it is extremely important to:
1. Always use new gloves for each new patient
2. Never puncture or touch the foil lid when collecting swabs or transferring urine specimens
3. Ensure the inside of the cap does not touch non-sterile surfaces (work surface,
hands, etc.) when collecting swabs or transferring urine specimens
4. Package/bag specimens from different patients or from same patients but
different sources, separately

Vaginal swab:
• Carefully insert the swab into the vagina about 2 inches (5 cm) past the introitus. Gently rotate the swab 10 to 30 seconds
• Make sure the swab touches the walls of the vagina so that moister/discharge fluid is absorbed by the swab
• Withdraw the swab without touching the skin and immediately place into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft at indicated score line, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Endocervical swab:
• Using large white shaft "cleaning" swab, remove excess mucous from cervical os and surrounding mucosa.
• Discard this swab.

• Using smaller BLUE shaft swab, insert swab into endocervical canal and gently rotate clockwise for 10 to 30 seconds to ensure adequate sampling
• Carefully withdraw the swab avoid contact with vaginal mucosa and immediately place into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft at indicated score line, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Urine, first void:
• Ensure patient has not urinated at least 1 hour prior to collection
• Collect 20 to 30 mL (beginning of stream) in a sterile collection
• Transfer 2 mL of urine into an Aptima Urine Collection tube. Ensure urine/fluid level is between the two fill lines on the transport tube

Male urethral swab:
• Unless purulent urethral discharge is present, urine is the optimal specimen in males
• Patients should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection
• Insert collection swab 2 to 3 cm into the urethra and gently rotate the swab clockwise for 2 to 3 seconds to ensure adequate sampling
• Carefully withdraw the swab and immediately place the swab into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Rectal swab:
• Insert the swab approximately one inch into the anal canal. If the swab is stained with feces, then use another swab to collect the sample
• Move the swab from side to side in the anal canal to sample the crypts, allow several seconds for absorption of organisms onto swab
• Withdraw the swab and immediately place into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft at the indicated score line, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Throat swab:
• Depress the tongue with a tongue depressor
• Sample the posterior pharynx, tonsils and inflamed areas
• Avoid swabbing tongue or oral mucosa
• Withdraw the swab and immediately place into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft at indicated score line, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Eye swab:
• Thoroughly swab the inner surface of the lower and upper eyelids and immediately place the swab into the transport tube
• Carefully break the swab shaft at indicated score line, discard top portion, secure lid firmly

Submission Requirements:

Rejection criteria:
• Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
• No swab in collection device
• Desiccated swab/transport media
• Only white shaft "cleaning" swab received

Handling/Storage Comments:

• Store and transport specimens at 2 to 30ºC
• Submit specimens to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible

Reference Range:

Negative

Comments:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea Screening - Test Performance Information for Clinicians

NOTE: All positive results are reported to STI Services, the ordering Physician, and the hospital ward if applicable

Last Reviewed:

11 February 2025

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