Diagnosis of Gonorrhea

Laboratory studies can be done for people suspected of having gonorrhea. The tests available are as follows:

•    Gram stain: It is an inexpensive and quick test that does not give conclusive results but is useful in determining the presence of a bacteria and identifying it.
•    Culture: doing a culture of a swab taken from the infected area can help treatment by determining whether the infection will be susceptible to antibiotics.
•    NAAT: Nucleic Acid Amplification Test’s are helpful in identifying the DNA sequence of the pathogen. It is particularly useful when obtaining swabs are difficult.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are fairly common and are gaining popularity.
Imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT scan of the pelvic region can reveal complications that are typically associated with pelvic inflammation disease. People who test positive for gonorrhea should be tested for other STD’s as well.