Screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the BD ProbeTec nucleic acid amplification test in a low prevalence genitourinary medicine clinic

Abstract

This study evaluated a population with a relatively low prevalence of gonococcal (GC) infection attending a genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) screening was compared with culture. A total of 2004 male urine, 1699 female endocervical and 424 self-taken vulvovaginal swabs were screened using the BD ProbeTec GC NAAT alongside Neisserial culture. ProbeTec-positive samples confirmed by the Gen-Probe Aptima GC NAAT and/or culture positive were deemed to have GC infection. Thirty-three out of 4157 (0.8%) specimens gave a reactive result by BD ProbeTec NAAT. Twenty-two were confirmed by Gen-Probe Aptima NAAT alone (4), culture alone (7) or both (11). Four patients were identified with GC infection who would have been missed by standard culture. No samples were culture positive and ProbeTec NAAT negative. Of 11 unconfirmed reactive samples, five gave low readings and three were contacts of gonorrhoea. Screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae using NAAT is a viable alternative to culture even in a low-prevalence population.