PCR detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea)

Have you noticed purulent discharge or burning when urinating a few days after sexual intercourse? Gonorrhoea, also known as the clap, is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. PCR from urine or a swab detects it reliably, even without any symptoms.

Who the test is for

• men with yellowish or greenish urethral discharge and burning when urinating;
• women with increased discharge, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods or lower abdominal pain;
• after unprotected sexual intercourse, including oral and anal sex, or when changing partners;
• people whose partner has been diagnosed with gonorrhoea, chlamydia or another sexually transmitted infection;
• people with multiple partners, as part of regular checks;
• alongside a chlamydia test, since gonorrhoea often occurs together with it.

What the test reveals

PCR finds the genetic trace of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in urine or a swab. In men, symptoms usually appear within a week of infection, whereas in women they are often mild or absent. Infection of the throat and rectum most often causes no symptoms.

Untreated gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women, and epididymitis in men. It rarely spreads through the blood to the joints and skin. Gonorrhoea can be treated successfully, but the bacterium is increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. Treatment should therefore be determined by a doctor, and antibiotics should not be taken on your own initiative.

The procedure and preparation

Women provide a vaginal swab or first-catch urine; they can also collect a vaginal swab themselves at home using a self-sampling kit obtained from a branch, then return the sample to the branch. Men provide first-catch urine or a genital swab.

For urine, the first morning urination is best, or urination after not urinating for at least two hours. Collect only the first portion, about 10 to 20 mL. Do not collect a swab during menstruation, and do not use vaginal preparations for two to three days beforehand. Bring the urine sample as soon as possible, preferably within 2 hours. Infection of the throat or rectum cannot be detected from urine or a genital swab; if you have had oral or anal sex, tell your doctor, who may request a sample from that site.

If you have no symptoms, test approximately two weeks after the risk contact. If you have symptoms, do not wait.

What your result means

• Positive: you have gonorrhoea. Your doctor determines the antibiotic, most often as an injection, and may also take a swab for culture to check the bacterium’s antibiotic susceptibility. Partners should also be tested and treated.
• Negative: gonorrhoea was not found in the sample. If fewer than two weeks have passed since contact or symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend repeating the test or other tests, for example for chlamydia and Mycoplasma genitalium.

Your doctor interprets the result alongside your symptoms and examination. Because of increasing antibiotic resistance, European guidelines recommend a follow-up test after treatment; PCR is then performed no earlier than two weeks after completing treatment. Avoid sexual intercourse until treatment is completed and for another seven days afterwards, and until your partner has been cured.

How to arrange testing

The test is available without a referral or appointment. A nurse takes the swab, while urine or a swab collected at home can be handed in at any of our branches (list on the page Contact). You can also be tested anonymously, without disclosing personal details. Prices for all tests and panels are listed in the price list. Gonorrhoea, together with chlamydia, mycoplasmas, ureaplasma, trichomonas and HPV, is included in the STD7 extended panel, and other options are described on the page STI testing.

Frequently asked questions

What are the first symptoms of gonorrhoea?

In men, most commonly burning when urinating and thick, yellowish urethral discharge. In women, symptoms are mild and easily mistaken for a bladder infection, and are often absent altogether.

Can I have gonorrhoea in my throat?

Yes, after oral sex. This infection rarely causes symptoms and cannot be detected from urine, so a doctor may request a sample from that site. Therefore, tell your doctor what type of sexual contact you had.

Is gonorrhoea the same as chlamydia?

No, these are two different bacteria treated with different antibiotics. They often occur together, so they are usually tested for at the same time.

Does my partner need testing?

Yes. Your partner should be tested and treated even without symptoms; otherwise, the infection can easily return.