Gonorrhea tests
Explanation
Gonorrhea tests look for the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, an infection usually passed through sexual contact. Testing may use urine or a swab from the area where infection could be present. Gonorrhea can occur without symptoms.
Why might a swab be needed as well as urine?
A urine or genital sample does not check every part of the body. A throat swab or a swab from the rectum, the final part of the bowel, may be needed after exposure at those sites. The sample must be suitable for the test used. A negative result from one site does not rule out infection at an untested site.
How do the laboratory methods differ?
A nucleic acid amplification test, often shortened to NAAT, looks for genetic material from the bacteria. Culture tries to grow the bacteria in the laboratory. When needed, bacteria grown by culture can be tested to see which antibiotics may work against them. A standard NAAT does not provide that information.
A negative result means the bacteria were not detected in the tested sample. Early testing or problems with the sample can mean an infection is missed, so timing and symptoms also matter.
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