Endometrial Culture for Gonococcal Infection (Qualitative)

What This Test Measures

The test identifies whether *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*—the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea—is growing in your endometrial sample. This is done through a qualitative culture method, which detects bacterial presence rather than measuring specific bacterial counts.

Why It’s Done

Your healthcare provider may order this test if you have symptoms like abnormal vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, or if you’ve been exposed to gonorrhea. It’s also used to confirm infection in cases where other tests (like urine or blood cultures) are inconclusive.

Sample Collection and Preparation

A small sample of your endometrial tissue is collected during a procedure (such as a dilation and curettage, or D&C). The sample is then sent to a lab for culture growth on specific bacterial media to detect gonococcal bacteria.

Test Results and Interpretation

Results are reported as either **positive** (bacteria detected) or **negative** (no bacteria found). A positive result means gonorrhea is likely present, while a negative result suggests no active infection is detected in this sample.