Objective: To examine the relationship between chlamydia testing and chlamydia detection rates in New South Wales, Australia, from 1999 to 2001.
Methods: Correlations between population-based chlamydia testing and notification rates--stratified by age group, area of residence, and year--were determined by linear regression.
Results: Strong positive correlations between chlamydia testing and notification rates were observed for both women (r = 0.91, p < 0.001) and men (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). Between 1999 and 2001, the chlamydia test positivity rate increased from 4.3% to 7.3% for women (p < 0.0001) and from 7.8% to 10.5% for men (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions and implications: This study suggests that Australia could benefit from a major chlamydia screening program.