Gonorrhea Testing
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria Gonorrhoeae that grows and multiplies quickly in warm, moist areas of the body, such as the cervix, urethra, mouth and rectum. It is commonly referred to as ‘the clap’ and the number of cases in the UK has increased by 80% over the last 12 years. It can affect both men and women and the people most at risk are those who don’t practice safe sex or those who have multiple partners.
What are the symptoms?
Currently, 60% of women and 10% of men do not develop symptoms. However, symptoms may not appear until many months later.
Women
- pain/burning sensation when urinating
- a change in vaginal discharge-unpleasant smelling thick discharge that may appear yellow or green in colour
- abdominal pain
- bleeding between periods
- frequent need to urinate
If Gonorrhea is left untreated, the infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), leading to infertility.
Men
- pain/burning sensation during urinating
- yellowish/white discharge from penis
- pain or tenderness caused by inflammation of the testicles or prostate gland
- frequent need to urinate
Babies
If a pregnant woman has Gonorrhea, she can pass the infection to her baby during delivery. Newborn babies normally show symptoms in their eyes after 1-14 days. Treating the newborn’s eyes with an antibiotic immediately after delivery can prevent serious eye infections.
How can it be treated?
Gonorrhoea is often treated by a single dose of antibiotics which are either taken orally (tablet) or through injection.
How can it be tested?
Gonorrhoea is tested in the same way Gordon Laboratory Group tests for Chlamydia. Using the most highly specialised testing procedures in the industry today, GLG tests for Neisseria Gonorrhoea using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This testing procedure is a gold standard Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique (NAAT) Gonorrhoea test and is the most sensitive available. It is extremely accurate and very unlikely to have a false-positive test result.
Interested in using GLG for your Gonorrhoea Screening?
Gordon Laboratory Group conducts Gonorrhoea Screening for a number of clients who also use us for their Chlamydia Screening Programme. If you are interested in using our fast, accurate and effective service then please do not hesitate to contact the laboratory to speak to a member of the GLG team. We are happy to provide you with our highly competitive prices.
