Negative STD result -- but positive leukocyte result !

Hello

I had an STD screening at a clinic the other week, where amongst other things I had a swab test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Both came back negative.

However, in a routine check-up with my GP yesterday I was told that I had leukocytes in my urine.

Given that I

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You can be sure you don't have gonorrhea or chlamydia; the specific tests for those infections are much more reliable than looking for white blood cells (leukocytes) in the urine.  CDC and most American STD experts recommend against urine WBC as an STD screening test.  Many people with STDs like chlamydia have negative results, and many people have positive results with no STD, often with nothing wrong at all.  A few WBC in urine from time to time is normal in most people.  It is conceivable you have a urinary tract infection of nonchlamydial nongonococcal urethritis, or if you're a woman (you don't say your sex), a vaginal infection.  Or nothing at all.

Your GP is the one to decide whether your results or abnormal or whether or not to repeat testing or look for other causes.  But you can be sure you don't have gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[whizz_kid]

Thanks Hunter.

That's a real weight off my mind!