Smear Examination for Gonococcus at Sanovra Lab

Smear Examination - Gonococcus – BC291

🔬 STD Screening Test

₹249 MRP ₹300

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Sample Time: 5:30 PM
Report: 2nd Working Day
Sample Type: Urethral/Cervical/Conjunctival/Other Smear
Test Code: BC291

About this Test:
The Smear Examination for Gonococcus is a microscopic test, typically involving a **Gram stain**, performed on a sample collected from a potentially infected site (like the urethra, cervix, or eye). It is used for the rapid, presumptive identification of **Neisseria gonorrhoeae**, the bacterium that causes the sexually transmitted infection **Gonorrhea**.

✔ Provides a quick, initial assessment for the presence of **Gonorrhea bacteria**.
✔ Particularly useful for diagnosing symptomatic urethritis in males.
✔ Involves microscopic examination of a stained smear from the infected area.
✔ Results should ideally be confirmed with more sensitive tests like culture or NAAT.

Gonorrhea and the Gram Stain

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial STI that can infect the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract (cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes in women; urethra in women and men), rectum, throat, and eyes. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and disseminated infection.

The Smear Examination typically uses a **Gram stain**, a classic microbiological technique that differentiates bacteria based on their cell wall composition. Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria (gonococci) have a characteristic appearance on a Gram stain:

• They are **Gram-negative** (stain pink/red).
• They appear as **diplococci** (pairs of spherical bacteria, often kidney-bean shaped).
• Crucially, in an active infection, they are often seen **intracellularly**, meaning inside white blood cells (specifically neutrophils) that have engulfed them.

Finding Gram-negative intracellular diplococci (GNID) on a smear from a symptomatic male urethral discharge is highly suggestive of gonorrhea.

Sample Types and Limitations

The sample collected depends on the site of suspected infection:

• **Urethral Smear:** For men with urethral discharge.
• **Cervical Smear:** For women, often collected during a pelvic exam.
• **Conjunctival Smear:** For newborns with eye discharge (ophthalmia neonatorum) or adults with conjunctivitis.
• Other sites: Rectal swab, throat swab, joint fluid if indicated.

Important Limitations:

• Sensitivity:** The Gram stain is highly sensitive for symptomatic urethral infection in men (>90%) but much less sensitive for cervical infections in women (~50%) or infections in the throat or rectum. A negative result does not rule out infection, especially in women or asymptomatic individuals.
• Specificity:** While finding GNID is strongly suggestive, other non-pathogenic Neisseria species can sometimes resemble gonococci, especially in samples from the throat or cervix.

Because of these limitations, while a positive Gram stain can provide a rapid presumptive diagnosis and allow for prompt treatment, negative results or results from non-urethral sites often require confirmation with more sensitive methods like **bacterial culture** or **Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs)**, which detect the bacteria's genetic material.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Gonococcus?
Gonococcus is the common name for the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes the sexually transmitted infection Gonorrhea.

Q2: What does this smear test involve?
A sample (smear) is collected from the suspected site of infection (e.g., urethra, cervix) using a swab. In the lab, the smear is stained (usually with a Gram stain) and examined under a microscope to look for the characteristic appearance of gonococcal bacteria.

Q3: What does a positive result look like?
A positive result typically shows Gram-negative (pink/red) diplococci (pairs of bacteria) located inside white blood cells (neutrophils). This finding is strongly suggestive of Gonorrhea, especially in a male urethral smear.

Q4: If my smear test is negative, does it mean I don't have Gonorrhea?
Not necessarily. The smear test is not perfectly sensitive, especially for infections in women or in sites like the throat or rectum. A negative result may require confirmation with a more sensitive test like a culture or NAAT if clinical suspicion remains high.

Q5: Do I need to prepare for this test?
Generally, no specific preparation like fasting is needed. However, you should avoid urinating for at least 1-2 hours before a urethral smear collection for optimal results. Follow any specific instructions from your healthcare provider.