Enzyme immunoassay for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA; Gonozyme, Abbott Laboratories) for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens was assessed. Clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeae or specimens obtained from male urethra or female cervix were tested by EIA. EIA results were compared with results of conventional culture identification for N. gonorrhoeae. Fifty clinical isolates of gonococci reacted positively with Gonozyme. Five strains of E. coli showed negative reaction to Gonozyme. Five strains of nonpathogenic Neisseria reacted differently with Gonozyme depending upon the viable number of the test organisms. The sensitivity and specificity of EIA for specimens form both sex were 72.4% and 93.8%, respectively. The corresponding figures for the male specimens were 84.6% and 71.4%, and for the female specimens 62.5% and 95%, respectively.