Stop the
silent infection
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Prevent transmission by knowing screening guidelines
Screening reduces serious risk to men and women
Neisseria gonorrheae is the second most common
bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. with
approximately 700,000 new infections annually. Most
infected individuals are asymptomatic and those with
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections are frequently co-infected
with Chlamydia trachomatis.
If left untreated, severe complications can occur in both
symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. In males, a
painful condition called epididymitis may lead to sterility.
Complications in females include pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic
pain, or if pregnant, passing the infection to the infant.
Clinical Indicators of Gonorrhea Infection
Annual Screening Guidelines for Gonorrhea
(http://www.cdc.gov/std/)
Frequency of
Symptoms
Burning and pain
when urinating
Increased urinary
frequency or urgency
Discharge
Painful or swollen
testicles
Lower Abdominal
Pain
Fever, Nausea, Sore
Throat
Common Sites of
Infection
Males
Females
Very common
Rare
Common
Rare
Common
Rare
Common
Rare
Less Common Not applicable
No
Yes*
Yes
Yes
urethra,
urethra, anus, cervix,
anus,
throat,
throat, eyes
eyes
*In women, this typically indicates the development of pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID).
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
• All sexually active females
with high risk factors*
(including those who are
pregnant)
• All sexually active females
with high risk factors*
(including those who are
pregnant)
US Dept. of Health and • Insufficient evidence to
Human Services
recommend for or against
US Preventative Services routine screening in men
with high risk factors.*
Task Force USPSTF
• Recommends against routine
screening in men and
women without high risk
factors.*
*High Risk Factors: new or multiple sex partners, history
of sexually transmitted diseases, inconsistent condom use,
exchanging sex for money or drugs, etc.
See reverse side for male and female collection options.
Beaumont
Laboratory
800-551-0488
B E A U M O N T L A B O R AT O RY 800-551-0488
Optimal detection methods must be utilized
Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) are currently
recommended by the U.S. CDC as the primary testing
option for the detection of Gonorrhea infections. NAATs
provide superior test sensitivity and equivalent test
specificity when compared to traditional culture-based
methods. Several FDA-approved NAATs are available
for use and most can simultaneously detect Chlamydia
trachomatis as well.
Collection options:
Swabs:
Female Endocervical:
• Preferred: BD ProbeTec™ Female Endocervical
Specimen Collection Kit.
• Acceptable: M4-RT, UVT or UTM Transport
Medium.
• Test Code: Gonorrhea only – INGG
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea – ICNG
Male Urethral:
• Preferred: BD ProbeTec™ Male Urethral
Specimen Collection Kit.
• Acceptable: M4-RT, UVT or UTM Transport
Medium.
• Test Code: Gonorrhea only – INGG
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea – ICNG
Urine (male or female):
• Preferred: 15-20 mL (first void) urine, clean
catch in sterile container.
NOTE: First void urine is preferred. Midstream
urines have decreased clinical sensitivity and are
of limited diagnostic value
• Test Code: Gonorrhea only – INGG
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea – ICNG
ThinPrep (Pap Smear)
Female Endocervical:
• Protocol:
–Endocervical brush – ¼ to ½ turn
–Spatula – one complete turn
–Broom-like device – complete turn;
3 to 5 times
• Test Code: Gonorrhea only – INGG
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea – ICNG
There is insufficient data to recommend stand-alone NAAT
(non-culture) tests in cases of sexual assault in boys and extragenital
anatomic site exposures in girls. Culture and NAAT should be used
in these settings.
P7855k4_7855_082712
Performance Characteristics of NAAT at Beaumont
Laboratory: BD ProbeTec™ Qx Amplified DNA Test
Specimen Type Sensitivity Specificity
Endocervical
98.5
99.7
Swab
Male Urethral
100
99.1
Swab
Female Urine
96.9
99.5
Male Urine
100
98.9
ThinPrep
95.3
99.9
(PreservCyt)
PPV
NPV
95.9
99.9
95
100
93.1
93.9
99.8
100
100
99.9
Note ThinPrep with chlamydia
and/or gonorrhea
•Ct and/or Ng must be ordered separately and at the time
of collection
–Cannot add-on a Ct/Ng order to a processed Pap
•Ct and/or Ng results will be reported separately. Results
will not be included on the combined Pap/HPV report.
Treatment guidelines
•Please refer to the 2010 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Treatment Guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/default.htm
• Test-of-Cure is not recommended. If desired, wait at
least 3 weeks after completion of therapy to minimize
the chance of a false positive NAAT result due to the
presence of non-viable organism.
• If you suspect treatment failure, culture-based
identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing
is recommended.
For more information or questions on
Neisseria gonorrhoeae molecular diagnostic
testing please contact Bobby Boyanton, M.D.
or a Customer Service Agent at 800-551-0488.
BE AUMONT L ABOR ATORY • 80 0 - 551- 0488