[Gonorrhea diagnosis]

The diagnostic procedure in gonorrhoea always starts with staining methods that the physician at first has to rely on in spite of their limited evidence, and that may justify specific treatment. Only culture, oxydase reaction, and biochemical differentiation (e.g. carbohydrate degradation test) can provide exact identification of pathogenic species of Neisseria. Further techniques can answer for antibiotic resistance and penicillinase production. Serological methods are employed with chronic or complicated gonococcal infections as well as with epidemiological investigations.