Sexually Transmitted Diseases  >  Gonorrhea  >  Laboratory Information  >  Gonorrhea Definitions  >  Clinical Laboratory Definition

Surveillance Definition

Gonorrhea (Revised 9/96)

Clinical description

A sexually transmitted infection commonly manifested by urethritis, cervicitis, or salpingitis. Infection may be asymptomatic.

Laboratory criteria for diagnosis

• Isolation of typical gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococci (presumptive Neisseria gonorrhoeae) from a clinical specimen, or
  
• Demonstration of N. gonorrhoeae in a clinical specimen by detection of antigen or nucleic acid, or
  
• Observation of gram-negative intracellular diplococci in a urethral smear obtained from a male
  

Case classification

Probable: a) demonstration of gram-negative intracellular diplococci in an endocervical smear obtained from a female or b) a written morbidity report of gonorrhea submitted by a physician

Confirmed: a case that is laboratory confirmed