title: [Application of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis].
abstract: 84 suspected patients with gonococcal urethritis were diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was demonstrated that 28 patients (33.3%) were positive, and 56 (66.7%) negative. Of the PCR-positive patients, 18 showed secretions from the urethral tract, on which the bacterial stain and culture were carried out. The results indicate that 12 patients were positive, and 6 negative. There was no patient with positive stain and culture with PCR-negative. We conclude that PCR is more specific and sensitive than other routine methods in the diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis, especially of chronic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University.
authors.forename: X Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014526:Urethritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology