Testing for ‘threads’ and leucocyte esterase in first-void urine to exclude the diagnosis of non-specific urethritis in asymptomatic men
Sanjeeva N. S. Pallawela A B , Christopher Sonnex A , Julia Burdett A , Dawn Cooper A , Katrina Nethercott A , Catherina M. Thomas A , Peter Goon A , Hayley Webb A and Christopher Carne A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
B Corresponding author. Email: spallawela@nhs.net
Sexual Health 11(3) 283-284 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH13190
Submitted: 7 December 2013 Accepted: 14 February 2014 Published: 10 April 2014
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that asymptomatic nonspecific urethritis (NSU), which is not routinely tested for, is a clinically significant pathology.The aim of this pilot study was to determine if testing for urinary threads, leucocyte esterase (LE) or both in asymptomatic men is a good screening tool for NSU. Of the126 asymptomatic men, 8% met microscopic criteria for the diagnosis of NSU. The positive predictive value for NSU was 71% (95% confidence interval (CI): 29.3–95.5%) and the negative predictive value was 96% (95% CI: 92.8–99.5%). The absence of threads and negative LE makes urethritis highly unlikely, making urinary chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) testing sufficient. Incidental findings of further pathology occurred in 7%.
Additional keywords: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, pilot study, urinary threads.
References
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