Laboratory diagnosis in the problem of suspected gonococcal infection

Proper laboratory techniques are indispensable for the diagnosis and detection of gonorrhea. While the smear is efficacious in diagnosing symptomatic urethral gonorrhea in men, it is not reliable for cervical, rectal, pharyngeal, or asymptomatic urethral infection. We have seen the development of four systems of culturing geared toward the office practitioner or where a complete laboratory is not available. They are as follows: Transgrow (transport), Neigon JEMBEC (transport or nontransport), Isocult, and Microcult systems. The Neigon JEMBEC system offers a good choice for the office practitioner. The use of proper diagnostic and culturing techniques and routine screening should bring about an increase in the amount of gonorrhea detected, treated, and subsequently removed from the reservoir of infection.