Observer variation in the interpretation of Gram-stained urethral smears: implications for the diagnosis of non-specific urethritis.
A study was carried out to determine whether the diagnosis of non-specific urethritis was affected by differences in the microscopical interpretation of urethral smears between individual observers (interobserver variation) and the same observer on separate occasions (intraobserver variation). A marked degree of both intraobserver and interobserver variation was found which--depending on the diagnostic criteria adopted--could affect both the diagnosis and treatment of many patients attending a clinic of genitourinary medicine.
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000175:diagnosis*