Neisseria gonorrhea Culture

Cervix
1. Do not use lubricant during procedure.
2. Wipe cervix clean of vaginal secretion and mucous.

3. Rotate a sterile swab and obtain exudate from endocervical gland.

4. If no exudate is seen, insert a sterile swab into endocervical canal and rotate swab.

5. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube.
6. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Prostatic Massage
1. Perform a digital massage through rectum.
2. Collect specimen with a culture swab.

3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube.
4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Rectal Swab
1. Pass tip of a sterile swab approximately 1 inch beyond anal sphincter.
2. Carefully rotate swab and withdraw.

3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube.
4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Throat (Pharyngeal Specimen)

Do not obtain throat specimen if patient has a diagnosis of epiglottitis or if epiglottis is inflamed as sampling may cause serious respiratory obstruction.

1. Collect using a red (Liquid Stuart) culture swab. 
2. Instruct patient to tilt head back and open mouth and say “ah” to make back of throat visible.

3. Depress tongue gently with tongue depressor.

4. Extend sterile culture swab between tonsillar pillars and behind uvula.

5. Gently sweep swab back and forth across posterior pharynx, tonsillar area, and any inflamed or ulcerated area to obtain specimen.

6. Return swab to transport tube, pushing cap all the way on to bring swab into contact with transport medium.

7. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
8. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Swab must be stored at ambient temperature.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urethra (Females)
1. Collect specimen 1 hour or more after patient has urinated.
2. Stimulate discharge by gently massaging urethra against pubic symphysis through vagina.

3. Collect discharge with a culture swab.

4. If discharge cannot be obtained, wash external urethra with Betadine® soap and rinse with water. Insert a urethrogenital swab 2 cm to 4 cm in endourethra, gently rotate, leave in place for 1 to 2 seconds, and withdraw.

5. Place swab in appropriate transport system for culture.
6. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urethra (Males)
1. Collect specimen at least 2 hours after patient has urinated.

2. Insert a Mini-Tip CULTURETTE^TM urethrogenital swab 2 cm to 4 cm into endourethra, gently rotate, leave in place for 1 to 2 seconds, and withdraw.

3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube.
4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Vaginal
1. Use a speculum without lubricant.
2. Collect secretion from mucosa high in vaginal canal with culture swab.

3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube.
4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Positives are reported to the Pennsylvania State Health Department.