Clinician‐collected urethra swab: A good alternative sample type using cobas 4800 system for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in men

BACKGROUND: Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are being used increasing to detection of CT (Chlamydia trachomatis) and NG (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) infections for superior sensitivity and specificity than other tests. Male first‐void urine (FVU) sample is the optimal sample type for detection of CT and NG by NAATs. Although not being the recommended by NAATs, clinician‐collected urethra swab (CCUS) is perhaps a good alternative sample type compared with the FVU sample in men. METHODS: Paired samples (FVU and CCUS) from one hundred male outpatients were simultaneously detected by urine pattern and swab pattern using cobas 4800 CT/NG assay on cobas 4800 system for the detection of CT and NG, respectively. And twenty‐one positive controls were also detected on cobas 4800 system. RESULTS: The CT/NG cycle thresholds (Ct) value of urine pattern is lower than that of swab pattern for the same positive samples (clinical samples and positive controls) on the cobas 4800 CT/NG assay. The final CT/NG results of two sample patterns from patients were highly consistent except for four discordant results. CONCLUSION: CCUS is validated for a good alternative sample type for the CT/NG detection on the cobas 4800 system in this study.