COMPARISON OF GONOGEN, GONOGEN-II, AND MICROTRAK DIRECT FLUORESCENT-ANTIBODY TEST WITH CARBOHYDRATE FERMENTATION FOR CONFIRMATION OF CULTURE ISOLATES OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE

When testing 248 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the sensi tivity was 100% with GonoGen (Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems), 99.6% (247 of 248) with GonoCen II (Becton Dickinson), 97.2% (241 of 2 48) with the MicroTrak direct fluorescent-antibody test (Syva), and 97 .6% (242 of 248) with Rapid Fermentation Agar carbohydrates (Remel). O f 62 isolates of other Neisseria species, none was misidentified as N. gonorrhoeae by GonoGen, MicroTrak, or Rapid Fermentation Agar carbohy drates but 7 (31.8%) of 22 isolates of N. meningitidis gave strong, re peatedly false-positive results with GonoGen II. The sensitivity of al l four assays was good to excellent, but all positive GonoGen II resul ts should be confirmed with an independent assay, especially when isol ates are recovered from sites where N. meningitidis is likely. Positiv e results from any of the assays should be routinely confirmed when di ctated by specific clinical, legal, or microbiological circumstances.