Gonorrhea laboratory tests: Difference between revisions
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==Lab tests== | ==Lab tests== | ||
Several laboratory tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Gonorrhea that is present in the cervix or urethra can be diagnosed in a laboratory by testing a urine sample. | Several laboratory tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Gonorrhea that is present in the cervix or urethra can be diagnosed in a laboratory by testing a urine sample. | ||
[[Gonorrhea]] can be quickly identified by staining a sample of [[tissue]] or discharge and then looking at it under a [[microscope]]. This is called a [[gram stain]]. Although this method is fast, it is not the most certain. | |||
[[Gram stain]] tests used to diagnose [[gonorrhea]] include: | |||
*[[Cervical]] [[gram stain]] in women | |||
*[[Gram stain]] of [[urethral]] discharge in men | |||
*[[Joint]] fluid [[gram stain]] | |||
Cultures ([[cells]] that grow in a lab dish) provide absolute proof of [[infection]]. Generally, samples for a culture are taken from the [[cervix]], [[vagina]], [[urethra]], [[anus]], or [[throat]]. Cultures can provide a preliminary [[diagnosis]] often within 24 hours and a confirmed [[diagnosis]] within 72 hours. | |||
Cultures used to diagnose [[gonorrhea]] include: | |||
*Endocervical culture in women | |||
*[[Urethral]] discharge culture in men | |||
*[[Throat]] swab culture in both men and women | |||
*[[Rectal]] culture in both men and women | |||
*Culture of [[joint]] fluid | |||
*[[Blood cultures]] | |||
[[DNA]] tests are especially useful as a [[screening test]]. They included the [[ligase chain reaction]] ([[LCR]]) test. [[DNA]] tests are quicker than cultures. Such tests can be performed on [[urine]] samples, which are a lot easier to collect than samples from the [[genital]] area. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:15, 3 February 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Gonorrhea (gonorrhoea in British English) is amongst the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and is caused by Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria gonorrheae. The term comes from Ancient Greek γονόρροια (gonórrhoia), literally "flow of seed"; in ancient times it was incorrectly believed that the pus discharge associated with the disease contained semen.[1]
Lab tests
Several laboratory tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea. A doctor or nurse can obtain a sample for testing from the parts of the body likely to be infected (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Gonorrhea that is present in the cervix or urethra can be diagnosed in a laboratory by testing a urine sample.
Gonorrhea can be quickly identified by staining a sample of tissue or discharge and then looking at it under a microscope. This is called a gram stain. Although this method is fast, it is not the most certain. Gram stain tests used to diagnose gonorrhea include:
- Cervical gram stain in women
- Gram stain of urethral discharge in men
- Joint fluid gram stain
Cultures (cells that grow in a lab dish) provide absolute proof of infection. Generally, samples for a culture are taken from the cervix, vagina, urethra, anus, or throat. Cultures can provide a preliminary diagnosis often within 24 hours and a confirmed diagnosis within 72 hours. Cultures used to diagnose gonorrhea include:
- Endocervical culture in women
- Urethral discharge culture in men
- Throat swab culture in both men and women
- Rectal culture in both men and women
- Culture of joint fluid
- Blood cultures
DNA tests are especially useful as a screening test. They included the ligase chain reaction (LCR) test. DNA tests are quicker than cultures. Such tests can be performed on urine samples, which are a lot easier to collect than samples from the genital area.