Opportunistic chlamydia screening in a general practice consultation

A 24 year old woman was offered opportunistic chlamydia screening during a routine general practice appointment for another problem. It is practice protocol to offer a test for chlamydia to all patients under the age 25, and clinicians are alerted to this with a computer prompt. She had a 3 year old son but was no longer in a relationship with the father. She had been in a new relationship for the past eight months, however, and said that she occasionally used condoms in addition to oral contraception. She had been tested for chlamydia when she was pregnant but the result was negative. She accepted the screening offer and provided a self collected lower vaginal swab, which she collected in the practice toilet during the consultation. Two days later her result came back positive and she was invited back to the practice for further discussion and treatment.