Data on the number of sexual health screens, which includes a test for Chlamydia, in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics between 2003 and 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the following table.
Number 2003 633,289 2004 727,010 2005 810,140 2006 883,488 2007 1,022,801 Notes: 1. One sexual health screen includes a test for Chlamydia and gonorrhoea at minimum and this is considered as one screen. 2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for Chlamydia tests in GUM clinics only. Chlamydia tests in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 3. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of tests made, not the number of patients tested. 4. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data. 5. Data are unavailable for 2008 Source: Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns
In addition to sexual health screens in GUM clinics, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides screening for Chlamydia to asymptomatic people aged under 25 years of age in healthcare and non- healthcare settings across England. The NCSP was launched in 2003. The following table shows the total number of Chlamydia tests done in general practice and pharmacies among 15-24 year-olds during the period 1 April 2003-31March 2008.
General practitioner surgeries Pharmacies 2003-04 2,445 0 2004-05 7,426 36 2005-06 17,281 8,272 2006-07 23,271 13,309 2007-08 43,046 9,052 Notes: 1. Data includes Chlamydia tests for males, females, and those with unknown/unspecified sex. 2. Data presented are the number of Chlamydia tests performed and not number of people tested. It should be noted that the number of Chlamydia tests collected through the NCSP will be used as a proxy for the number of people tested. 3. Data presented are based on tests with confirmed positive and negative results only. Tests with equivocal, inhibitory and insufficient results have been excluded as most people with these results are retested. 4. Data presented are based on young people resident in England only. 5. The total number of tests will increase annually as the NCSP was rolled out in phases across England with participation of all 152 primary care trusts occurring at the end of 2007-08. 6. The total number of tests done in pharmacies increased substantially in 2005-06 because the Boots Pathfinder pilot was run between November 2005 and March 2008. The pilot project was based on Chlamydia testing being made available in selected Boots pharmacies across London. Source: National Chlamydia Screening Programme