| Synonyms |
GC Culture; Cervical, Urethral, Vaginal, Penis, Throat, Rectal Cultures for Gonorrhea |
| Panel/Profile Component |
Direct Gram Stain, Gonorrhea Culture |
| Patient Preparation |
None Required. |
| Specimen Type |
E-swab of site to be cultured |
| Cause for Rejection |
Specimens submitted without patient identification or with a dry eswab will be rejected. |
| Test Availability |
Daily |
| Turnaround Time |
Smear report available in 24 hours. Culture report 72 hours. Preliminary Report after 24 hours. |
| Special Instructions |
Requisition must state source and/or body site. - Female Collection Methods:
- Cervix Culture: Exspose with a sterile bivalve vaginal speculum. Using a sterile swab clean the external os. Remove any intravaginal part of the cervical plug. Gently compress the cervix with the speculum blades to strip secretions from the endocervical gland. Insert each swab into the cervical canal and press it against the wall a few seconds.
- Vaginal Culture: With a sterile swab obtain material from the posterior fornix before removing the vaginal speculum.
- Urethral Culture: Clean the area around the meatus with a sterile swab. Apply pressure to the urethra through the vagina from above downward to the external meatus. Introduce the swabs into the meatus and gently rotate.
- Male Collection Methods
- Urethral Discharge: Retract the prepuce if uncircumcised and clean the meatus with a towelette. Strip the penile urethra and collect discharge on E-swab mini-tip culturette. If the discharge is meager gently scrape the mucosa 1 inch inside the urethra.
- Throat: Collect culture at least 60 minutes after eating or using mouthwash. Depress the tongue with tongue blade. Have the patient tilt his/her head. The further back the head is the less the tongue will interfere. Ask the patient to say "AHH" which will raise the uvula. Being careful not to touch the tongue, pass the swab under and behind the uvula. Twirl the swab over the tonsils and the back of the throat especially over any exudate. red or white patches. If there is a membrane, lift the edge of the swab underneath if possible. Replace swab into E-swab culturette. Label with pateint name.
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