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- Page navigation anchor for Barriers to opportunistic chlamydia testing in general practiceBarriers to opportunistic chlamydia testing in general practiceA recent qualitative study by Lecky et al investigated barriers preventing general practice patients from returning stool samples.1 Opportunistic chlamydia testing in general practice as part of the national chlamydia screening programme (NCSP) also has multiple barriers. The National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles suggest there has been no change in the population prevalence of chlamydia in England in 10 years.In October 2014 we conducted a confidential questionnaire survey of GPs attending educational meetings in London to explore their opinions about barriers to chlamydia testing.Of the 71 responders, 31% were qualified GPs and 69% were trainees. Almost half (48%) had consulted less than five people about a possible sexually transmitted infection in the last twelve months. Some 51% had not issued any NCSP self-test kits in the last year, with only 7% having issued >20 kits, equivalent to less than one a fortnight. Compared with 2010 when national chlamydia testing rates peaked, 62% reported doing fewer or the same number of chlamydia tests. Finally 54% said they rarely or never asked about contraception and 89% rarely or never gave out condoms.Barriers to greater GP participation in chlamydia screening included lack of time (68%), lack of kits (16%) and GPs finding it an uncomfortable or irrelevant issue (11%).Competing Interests: None declared.