Major chlamydia study publishes results

News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

16 January 2006

An HTA-funded project to investigate the world's most common sexually transmitted infection, chlamydia, has published some of its key findings in the British Medical Journal. The HTA programme commissioned the Chlamydia Screening Studies (ClaSS) project to investigate the most effective way to screen for chlamydia, which costs the NHS up to £100 million per year in associated treatment costs. The findings published in the BMJ detail the results of one of six interlinked studies that comprised the research. They suggest that using trained practice nurses to notify partners is at least as effective as referral to a specialist health adviser at a GUM clinic, and costs the same.

ClaSS is one of the largest screening studies of its kind. It has already published findings on the overall prevalence of the infection, risk factors for contracting chlamydia, and the performance of new screening tests. Results about the cost-effectiveness of different screening strategies and tests, and the emotional, social and psychological effects of screening and procedures for notifying partners will be published in 2006.

The research is due to be published in full in the Health Technology Assessment journal series in October 2006.

Notes for editors


  1. The HTA programme is a programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and produces high quality research information about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest of the NIHR programmes and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with more than 400 issues published to date. The journal’s 2007 Impact Factor (3.87) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk The HTA programme is coordinated by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), based at the University of Southampton.
  2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.  The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training.  Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Stockley, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: ns5@soton.ac.uk

Helen Nikandrou, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 584, Email: h.nikandrou@soton.ac.uk

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