A rapid carbohydrate utilization test for the identification of N. gonorrhoeae was investigated, with reference to its use in a routine diagnostic laboratory. The rapid test was shown to give accurate results in agreement with those of a conventional serum-free sugar medium. Because of the shorter time taken for the confirmation of an isolate, and several other advantages, it is proposed that t...

The new BD Max GC real-time PCR assay showed high clinical and analytical sensitivity and specificity. It can be an effective and accurate supplementary test for the BD ProbeTec GC Qx amplified DNA assay, which had suboptimal specificity, and might also be used for initial detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.