Several months ago the CDC updated their recommendations for laboratory detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
A summary:
Chlamydia trachomatis
- Swabs must have a plastic or wire shaft and a rayon, Dacron, or cytobrush tip.
- Swabs must be inserted 2-3 cm into the male urethral or 1-3 cm into the endocervical canal followed by 2-3 rotations
- Specimens should be sent to the laboratory 1) within 24 hours of collection, 2) in sucrose phosphate glutamate buffer or M4 media, and 3) at less than or equal to 4 degrees C
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Gram stain of male urethral specimen that contains PMS and intracellular Gram-negative diplococcic is considered diagnostic
- A negative Gram stain result does NOT rule out infection
- Swabs must have a plastic or wire shaft and a rayon, Dacron, or cytobrush tip.
- Swabs must be inserted 2-3 cm into the male urethral or 1-3 cm into the endocervical canal followed by 2-3 rotations
- For specimen transport, culture transport systems are preferred over swab transport systems
- Specimens should be plated and incubated in an increased CO2 environment as soon as possible
- Culture media should include selective (such as Thayer-Martin or Martin-Lewis) and nonselective (such as chocolate) agar
- Oxidase-positive, Gram-negative diplococcic that grow on selective media can be presumptively identified as N. gonorrhoeae
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are superior when compared to other culture and nonculture diagnostic methods for both organisms. However, it’s important that lab professionals understand the limitations of these tests.
Microbiologists should take the time to read the report here.
–Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), is a laboratory professional, recovering microbiologist, and web editor for Lab Medicine.