Detecting Sexually Transmitted Disease.

In brief During a routine preparticipation exam, a 17-year-old asymptomatic boy had a 1+ leukocyte esterase reaction on urinalysis. A subsequent urethral smear was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis, a pathogen that can cause urethritis or epididymitis in men and cervicitis and infertility in women. Most authorities do not consider a screening urinalysis a necessary part of the preparticipation exam because the yield of significant renal or metabolic disease is low. However, the newer dipstick strips that incorporate the leukocyte esterase test may prompt a reassessment.