| Test: | Gonorrhea Culture |
| Synonym: | GC Screen, Gonococcal Culture GC Screen, Gonococcal Culture |
| Method: | Standard reference procedure for Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture and identification |
| Availability: | Daily; negatives reported at 3 days, positives reported as soon as found |
| Specimen: | Any site or fluid: urethral, endocervical, rectal, and throat swabs; for males a slide of urethral material is also required for gram stain |
| Collection Device: | Inoculated Jembec plate of Modified Thayer-Martin agar sealed in a plastic bag with a CO2-generating tablet. Test-specific transport devices, recommended sources, transport temperature and requirements are required for each test method when specified.
1.) For culture of N. gonorrhoeae, use calcium alginate or dacron swabs for specimen collection; do not use wood shaft or cotton fiber swabs as cotton fibers contain fatty acids which are inhibitory to the gonococcus 2.) Inoculate culture directly onto a Jembec agar plate because the gonococcus is extremely susceptible to drying; use one plate for each culture obtained and roll the swab in a Z pattern cross the agar surface 3.) Label the plate with patient identification and specimen site 4.) Place a CO2 generating tablet in the designated location in the Jembec plate and placeand seal in a plastic bag 5.) Transport immediately at ambient temperature; if there is any delay in transport, incubate at 37 °C |
| Volume: | Inoculated plate |
| Storage/Transport: | Ambient; transport to lab immediately or if there is a delay in transport incubate at 37 °C and keep in a CO2-rich environment |
| Unacceptable: | Delayed transport of the plates in non-CO2 environment; refrigerated or frozen specimens |
| Specimen Stability: | |
| Reference Interval: | Negative for Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| Reportable Disease: | |
| Comments: | Identification by nucleic acid methodology can be performed on genital specimens collected in the GenProbe collection kit; see Chlamydia trachomatis/Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA. Note collection site on specimen and order form. Culture for N. gonorrhoeae is method of choice in cases of treatment failure and sexual abuse and for non-genital sources. Media and probes are available from Regional Pathology Services. |
| Revised: | 7/11/2011 |