If culture is positive, identification will be performed at an additional charge. Antibiotic susceptibilities are only performed when appropriate.
Preferred Specimen(s) Urethral, cervical, anorectal or throat.
Collect specimen using a blue-cap, Amies gel transport medium swab delivered within 24 hours of collection.
Instructions Deliver to the Microbiology lab ASAP transport swab. Do not refrigerate. Indicate source of specimen on both the requisition and specimen collection device. For blood specimens, use test “Culture, Blood”. For sterile body fluids, use test “Culture, Aerobic and Anaerobic”.
Transport Container Copan transport swab containing Amies gel medium
Transport Temperature Room temperature 48 hrs
Reject Criteria
- Expired transport swabs
- Specimens >24 hours old
- Received frozen
Methodology Conventional Culture, Microscopic & Automation
Clinical Significance Neisseria gonorrhoeae is considered a pathogen whenever isolated and its identification is important in initiating appropriate therapy to prevent the spread of the infection as well as the serious sequelae.