Evaluation of the limulus amebocyte lysate assay for presumptive diagnosis of gonorrhea in men at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases

Specimens of urethral exudate from 200 men with uncomplicated urethritis were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae by the limulus amebocyte lysate assay, culture on modified Thayer-Martin medium, and gram-stained smear. As compared with cultures, the sensitivity and specificity of the limulus assay were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSexually transmitted diseases Vol. 8; no. 3; p. 175
Main Authors Chapel, T A, Adcock, M, Smith, B, Barnes, T, Goodman, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1981
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Diagnosis, Differential
Gonorrhea - complications
Gonorrhea - diagnosis
Humans
Limulus Test
Male
Middle Aged
Urethritis - diagnosis
Urethritis - etiology
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Summary:Specimens of urethral exudate from 200 men with uncomplicated urethritis were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae by the limulus amebocyte lysate assay, culture on modified Thayer-Martin medium, and gram-stained smear. As compared with cultures, the sensitivity and specificity of the limulus assay were 94.8% and 89.3%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of the gram stain were 98.8% and 100.0%, respectively. The accuracy of prediction of the presence of N. gonorrhoeae was significantly better by gram-stained smear than by the limulus assay. Unless the limulus assay is modified, as it was in this study, it does not appear to have a role in the presumptive diagnosis of the gonorrhea in men at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases.
ISSN:0148-5717
DOI:10.1097/00007435-198107000-00001