Sampling technique and detection rates for pharyngeal gonorrhea using culture

Abstract

In a study of 6721 pharyngeal gonorrhoea culture results taken by 43 clinicians, there was a significant difference in the detection rate by individual clinician (0%-10%, median: 1.3%, P = 0.05). The detection rate was associated with the frequency with which clinicians reported inducing a gag reflex when taking pharyngeal swabs (P < 0.05). © 2010 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association.