Supplementary testing is not required in the cobas 4800 CT/NG test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae weak-positive urogenital samples.
Weak-positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae nucleic acid amplification test results are difficult to interpret. We show that the frequency of unconfirmed N. gonorrhoeae results from the cobas 4800 test rises exponentially after 38.0 cycles, where the likelihood of an unconfirmed result exceeds 29%. Supplementary testing of such samples should be avoided; instead, treatment should be based on clinical pretest probability.
Aotea Pathology Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand cbromhead@apath.co.nz.
Collette
C
Bromhead
Aotea Pathology Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand.
Nadika
N
Liyanarachchy
Aotea Pathology Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand.
Julia
J
Mayes
Labtests Auckland, Mt. Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand.
Arlo
A
Upton
Aotea Pathology Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand.
Michelle
M
Balm
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial