Sexual Health | Pathology | Diagnosing Gonorrhoea

Diagnosing gonorrhoea
Session overview
Description
This session explains how to diagnose gonorrhoea using the available tests. It describes the samples that are required, the sensitivity and specificity of the tests, and their potential advantages and disadvantages.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• list what samples should be taken to make a diagnosis of gonorrhoea
• describe how these samples should be stored and transported
• describe which tests are available and appropriate to detect gonorrhoea
• interpret the results of tests for gonorrhoea
• discuss the timescale between exposure to infection and tests for gonorrhoea becoming positive
• state the timescale between treatment and tests for gonorrhoea becoming negative
• discuss the detection of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete the sessions:

• Module 2/Interpreting Laboratory Tests (260-0193)
• Module 2/Antigen and Antibody Tests (260-0019)
• Module 2/Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (260-0020)

In this session, the following aspects of diagnostic testing for gonorrhoea will be covered:

• types of samples that are used
• storage and transportation of samples
• availability of tests
• how tests are performed
• the sensitivity and specificity of tests
• the potential advantages or disadvantages of different tests
   

The timescale between exposure and tests for gonorrhoea becoming positive is discussed. The session also covers the timescale between treatment and tests for gonorrhoea becoming negative, and the detection of antibiotic resistance.