SCREENING URINE SAMPLES BY LEUKOCYTE ESTERASE TEST AND LIGASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR CHLAMYDIAL INFECTIONS AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC MEN

Urine samples from 358 asymptomatic males were screened for urethral i nflammation by the leukocyte esterase (LE) test and for Chlamydia trac homatis by the ligase chain reaction (LCR). LE and LCR positivity rate s were 7.5% (27 of 358 samples) and 2.8% (10 of 358 samples), respecti vely. Eight of the 10 LCR-positive samples were detected by the LE scr eening test. The urine LE prescreening test in combination with the LC R assay may be a reasonable approach for genitourinary chlamydial dise ase control.