A new urine test developed by University of Cambridge researchers can diagnose Chlamydia infection in men in just an hour.

The test, known as the Chlamydia Rapid Test, is far more accurate and quicker in diagnosing Chlamydia as compared to the existing urine-based tests for men.

Chlamydia often produces no symptoms, but it can seriously damage fertility if left untreated. Once diagnosed, Chlamydia can be treated easily with a one-off antibiotic pill.

In England, as many as 68 young men in every 1,000 and 84 young women in every 1,000 carry the infection. Since the mid-1990s, the number of diagnosed infections has increased from an average of 7,500 per year to over 123,000.

The researchers tested samples from over 1,200 men, aged 16-73, at two UK sexual health centres, with the new test. The Chlamydia Rapid Test identified Chlamydia infection in 84% of the samples, which was far more accurate than the polymerase chain reaction assay test generally used.

Dr Helen Lee, from the University of Cambridge, who helped develop the new test, said: "Horror stories about painful swabs have put men off getting tested for Chlamydia, and other non-invasive tests are expensive, technically complex and take days to obtain the result. This has led to many cases of infection in men going undiagnosed and being transmitted to their female partners, with potentially more serious complications."