Urethritis laboratory tests

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Overview
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra. The main symptom is dysuria, which is painful or difficult urination.

Lab tests
A swab is inserted 1–4cm into the urethra and rotated once. The swab is then smeared onto a glass slide and examined under a microscope. A commonly used cut-off for the diagnosis of urethritis is 5 or more polymorphs per high power field, but this definition has recently been called into doubt.

Tests of gonorrhoea and chlamydia are sent on the swab.