[Neisseria gonorrhoeae identification. Usefulness of the Vitek 2C NH card]

Abstract

A total of 115 unique clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 54 strains of other genera and species included in the database of the NH card were tested by the Vitek 2C System (bioMèrieux, Marcy L'Etoile, Francia). The gonoccocal isolates had been previously identified by conventional biochemical tests and by the latex agglutination test with monoclonal antibodies using the Phadebact Monoclonal GC Test (Bactus AB, Sweden). The NH card correctly identified 111 (96.5 %) strains of 115 isolates; one strain was identified with low discriminatory power (0.86 %), one (0.86 %) was misidentified (as Neisseria meningitidis) whereas the other two (1.7 %) remained unidentified. The NH card for N. gonorrhoeae identification provided 100 % specificity. The results were available within 6 hours. The NH card could be considered a reliable and useful tool for routine use in Neisseria gonorrhoeae identification.