Experience with a modified solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for detection of gonorrhea in prostitutes

Abstract

The modified Gonozyme Test (Abbott Laboratories; Chicago, IL), a new enzyme immunoassay for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was evaluated in testing of 266 prostitutes. When the enzyme immunoassay was used with material from the cervix, the prevalence of gonorrhea was 8.4%. As compared with culture results, this rate represents a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 99.2%. A sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 98.9% were registered for tests of urethral material. In a comparison of the two tests without accepting either one as standard, the sensitivity of the enzyme immunoassay was 90% for material from the cervix and the specificity was 100%. There are several possible causes for discordance between results of culture and of enzyme immunoassay. The high predictive value of a negative enzyme immunoassay in screening urogenital samples from prostitutes makes this test very suitable for rapid elimination of gonorrhea from this pool of patients.