Immunofluorescence in the Diagnosis of Gonorrhoea

Abstract

SUMMARY: A direct immunofluorescent (IF) staining method was used to demonstrate Neisseria gonorrhoeae in smears of patients' secretions. This method, Gram stained smears and cultures were used to investigate soldiers presenting with urethritis and 106 out of 184 men were diagnosed by one or more methods ,as suffering from gonorrhoea. Results of IF tests alone were positive in 2 cases but they were negative in 3 cases who had positive results by Gram stained smears and cultures. It is concluded that in men direct IF stained smears are less valuable in the diagnosis of gonorrhoea than in women. The IF technique ,was also used to investigate prostatic secretion three months after treatment for gonococcal urethritis. Immunofluorescent tests were helpful in the investigation of female contacts of servicemen who had recently had gonorrhoea. Five out of 14 such women had positive results by IF stained smears alone. There were no difficulties in starting the technique in Singapore and it is considered that it was as satisfactory there as it had been in London.