Gonorrhea tests tell if a person has this disease.

They look for the bacterium, or germ, that

causes gonorrhea. Testing is done on body fluid or urine samples.
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection. That means it is spread through sexual contact. It
does not always cause symptoms.
Tests used to find a gonorrhea infection include:

 Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). NAATs find the genetic material (DNA) of
gonorrhea germs. These tests are very accurate. They can be done on urine samples or
samples of body fluid from the area where the infection is suspected.
 Gonorrhea culture. This test is done on a sample of body fluid collected from the area
where the infection is suspected, such as thecervix, urethra, eye, rectum, or throat. The
sample is combined with substances that help the gonorrhea germs grow. This test can
also tell if the gonorrhea germs are resistant to antibiotics.

Why It Is Done
Tests for gonorrhea are done to:

 See if a gonorrhea infection may be causing symptoms such aspainful urination,

anal itching or bleeding, vaginal bleeding after intercourse, or abnormal discharge from
the penis or vagina.
 Screen women who are at high risk for a gonorrhea infection. Because gonorrhea does
not always cause symptoms, screening is important. The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) recommends routine gonorrhea screening tests for:1
o All sexually active women ages 24 and younger.
o Women older than 24 who are at higher risk for STIs.
o Pregnant women who have an increased risk for a gonorrhea infection. Treating a
pregnant woman who has gonorrhea can prevent an infection in her newborn.
 Check for infection in a newborn whose mother had gonorrhea at the time of delivery.

In some cases, the test is done to see how well treatment is working. This isn't usually needed
unless gonorrhea has occurred during pregnancy or a sex partner was not treated.

How To Prepare

Do not urinate for 2 hours before a urine sample is collected.

Women should not douche or use vaginal creams or medicines for at least 24 hours before
having a gonorrhea test.
 Treatments and drugs
Gonorrhea treatment in adults

Adults with gonorrhea are treated with antibiotics. Due to emerging strains of drug-
resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that uncomplicated gonorrhea be treated only with the antibiotic
ceftriaxone (Rocephin) — given as an injection — in combination with either
azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax) or doxycycline (Monodox, Oracea,Vibramycin) —
two antibiotics that are taken orally.
Some research indicates that oral gemifloxacin (Factive) or injectable gentamicin,
combined with oral azithromycin, is highly successful in treating gonorrhea. This
treatment may be helpful in treating people who are allergic to cephalosporin
antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone.

Gonorrhea treatment for partners

Your partner also should undergo testing and treatment for gonorrhea, even if he or
she has no signs or symptoms. Your partner receives the same treatment you do.
Even if you've been treated for gonorrhea, you can be reinfected if your partner isn't
treated.

Gonorrhea treatment for babies

Babies born to mothers with gonorrhea receive a medication in their eyes soon after
birth to prevent infection. If an eye infection develops, babies can be treated with
antibiotics.