Chlamydia... False negative.

[6783]

I learned that I was infected with Chlamydia about a year ago.  I was given antibiotics to clear it up and so was my husband.  We both went back to the doctor 3 weeks later, in which at that time, we were told both was negetvie for the infection.  It has now been a year and I've always had symptoms even after the negetive results, but because the result was negative I just assumed my symtoms were from something else.  

I finally got tired of cramping and burning so I made an appointment with the doctor...  Keeping in mind this was a year later.  Needles to say this Chlamydia test came back positive.  

My husband swears up and down that he has not cheated on me again.  And my symptoms point to me having it since the original negetive result.  My question is, can a negative result be false?  Was it possible that I still had a trace of the bacteria and then it remanifested.  I want to give my husband every beneftit of the doubt, but just don't know if this is clinically possible.  This information can save or break my marriage and I need to know.  Can this bacteris remanifest after a negative result??

Thanks for your help/

[theunhappycamper]

I'm in a similar boat as you two, so you're not alone. Check out my post on July 26th, my story is there
But in a nutshell, I was tested, the urine test came back positive for chlamydia... took 1 dose of doxy for 7 days, still had symptoms, then took a 1g dose of zithro... i've had two doctor's tell me i took more enough antibiotics...i took a urinalysis three weeks later (it's been almost three weeks since this test) and test were negative :\....... however......these symptoms have lasted me since december 06 and what' i've done since then is......

gf 1 mid december
tested mid january - results = negative -  meds = 1 gr zithro
time: mid february (symptoms persisting) bacteria urinalysis done  - reults = negative  - meds = nothing
gf 2 mid april
tested mid april   -   results = positive  - meds = 1 gr zithro / cipro
tested mid june (not with gf)   - reults = positive  -  meds = 7days doxy/1g zithro after
tested mid july (no new gfs)   - results = negative  -  meds = nothing


throughout this time, symptoms have never 100% completely gone away, dont know why, but always same thing :\

[stillHurting]

Chlamydia can recur. It's not common, but about 4% of the time it happens.

And so if you take two people, there's just less than a 8% chance that one partner's treatment will fail, and so they could reinfect the other.  Now that's not a huge percentage, but it certainly is more than 0%.

False positives are less likely than false negatives, but they both do happen.  Also, in cases where it does recur, it's usually going to be initially lowered by the antibiotics, and then come back to full strength later on.  3 weeks after completing antibiotics is just about the right amount of time to be tested again, but 4-5 weeks is even better.  So, basically, in your situation, there is no way to know for sure.  If your husband also tests positive now, you can be sure that your most recent test was correct.  Two false positives would be extremely unlikely.

Joh222:
Since you did finally come back negative now, I'd probably wait it out a bit and see if your symptoms reduce over time.  It's not uncommon to still have discomfort due to lingering inflammation but without and infection for some time after treatment.  If you want to be sure, wait the 4 weeks and be tested again, at that point, a negative NAAT is highly reliable.

I'd like to know how you were tested (positive) before.  Gram stain?  NAAT?  Swab and culture?  Urinalysis?  For your retest, it makes the most sense to do NAAT, they are by far the most sensitive test.

[Joh222]

I totally understand what you mean... and this also worries me. on the 6th of July i was once again tested for chlamydia after having taken 4 prescritptions of antibiotics (azithromycin x1, doxcycyline x1 and cirpo x2) because test were still coming back positive. my doc sent the july 6th test in but ws going away on vacation... as precaution he gave me azithromycin tretment. i recieved the test back today which was negative.. So i figure even after i didnt have it anymore, i still had an extra treatment... but to be honest... i still have symptoms of still having it. the sensation is within the urethra instaed of at the tip of the penis. now if there is such a thing as false negative... the symptoms obviously tell the tale.. but if there is no such thing.... what else can it be. Is it possible that there is an inflammation process from the chlamydia infection? Does that usually go away with the infection? or is it till possible to still be around even if the chlamydia is gone? and what about fugus by the antibiotics?

what meds were you on for your chlamydia?

[6783]

The doctore swabbed my cervix and performed a urine culture.  I doubt that it is negative.  Due to symptoms, I'm pretty sure I have it.  I just think I've had it all along.  Even after the frist negative result.  What do you think?

[Tommy420]

The chances are greater that your recent test was a false positive than having a false negative test. How were you tested? What kind of test did the doctor use?