Gonorrhoea testing is performed on a urine sample or a swab from the site of potential infection, often the urethra, cervix, mouth, or rectum. Urine samples can be collected by the patient, while swab samples can be collected by either the patient or a medical professional.
The purpose of gonorrhoea testing is to detect a gonorrhoea infection. A gonorrhoea test is performed in two different situations:
- Screening: Screening tests look for diseases when you aren’t experiencing symptoms to detect the disease earlier. When doctors screen for gonorrhoea, they may also screen for other STDs at the same time.
- Diagnosis: Not everyone will develop symptoms, but you may experience signs such as pain and burning during urination. Gonorrhoea testing can diagnose or rule out gonorrhoea as the cause of your symptoms. Because gonorrhoea has similar symptoms to chlamydia, another common STD, doctors often test for both gonorrhoea and chlamydia at the same time.
What does the test measure?
Gonorrhoea testing detects evidence of infection with the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There are several types of gonorrhoea tests:
- Gonorrhoea nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) testing: This detects the genetic material (DNA) of the gonorrhoea bacteria and is considered the preferred test for gonorrhoea infection. This type of test can be performed on a urine sample or a swab taken from a site of potential infection.
- Gram stain: This looks for certain types of cells that are characteristic of a gonorrhoea infection under a microscope. The test is performed on urethral swabs and is used primarily in men who are experiencing urinary symptoms.
- Gonococcal culture: These cultures attempt to grow the gonorrhoea bacteria from swabs taken from sites of potential infection. Cultures are the only tests that detect the infection’s susceptibility to antibiotics. Doctors may order a gonococcal culture if they suspect you have an antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhoea.
- Rapid gonorrhoea tests: While rapid testing for gonorrhoea isn’t common, several tests are being developed to allow health care professionals to give same-day results.
When should I get this test?
Because many people who are infected with gonorrhoea do not have any noticeable symptoms, a number of health organizations recommend regular gonorrhoea screening for certain adolescents and adults between the ages of 15 and 65, including:
- Women under 25: All sexually active women younger than age 25 should get yearly screening for gonorrhoea.
- Women 25 and older: Women with risk factors for gonorrhoea infection who are 25 and older should be screened yearly.
- Pregnant women: Because gonorrhoea can be passed from mother to child during childbirth, all pregnant women under 25 should be tested. Pregnant women 25 and older should be screened if at an increased risk of gonorrhoea infection.
- Men who have sex with men: If you are a man who has sex with men you should be screened annually for gonorrhoea, or every three to six months if you are at an increased risk for contracting gonorrhoea.
- People with HIV: If you are diagnosed with HIV, it is important to be screened for gonorrhoea at least once per year.
Regular screening for gonorrhoea in heterosexual men without symptoms is not generally recommended.
Risk factors that impact the frequency of gonorrhoea screening include:
- A new sexual partner in the past 60 days
- Multiple sex partners
- Having an STD in the past or a sex partner recently treated for an STD
- Inconsistent condom use
- Trading sex for money or drugs
- Sexual contact with sex workers
- Meeting anonymous partners from the internet
- Residing in a correctional facility or juvenile detention centre
- Illegal drug use
Anyone with signs or symptoms of gonorrhoea should be tested for this infection. Gonorrhoea testing should also be ordered when a sex partner has been diagnosed with the disease. When present, signs and symptoms of gonorrhoea include:
- Painful urination
- White, yellow, or green urethral discharge
- Pain in the testicles or scrotum
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
- Anal discharge or itching
- Anal soreness or bleeding
- Painful bowel movements
- Sore throat
