Survey of the use of selective culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in specimens from the female genital tract sent by general practitioners to a microbiology laboratory

A retrospective survey of the number of cultures found to be positive for N eisseria gonorrhoeae in genital specimens from female patients sent by gene ral practitioners (GPs) over a three-year period was carried out. The organ ism could be detected in only four specimens out of over 28 000 specimens s ent. Specifically, additional selective culture for N gonorrhoeae had been carried out in 8529 of these specimens. An estimate of the cost savings ach ievable if this laboratory was no longer to culture routinely for N gonorrh oeae was made. GPs should be aware of their local laboratory's normal pract ice when processing such specimen and should request specific culture if ap propriate. The low number of specimens from which N gonorrhoeae could be cu ltured might suggest that GPs are referring 'at-risk' patients to genitourn iary medicine clinics already.