Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted disease seen in both males and females.
Males are usually symptomatic and develop an acute urethritis.
Pus from the urethra can be obtained by inserting a cotton or rayon urogenital swab 2 cm into the urethra and rotating gently before withdrawing. When profuse urethral discharge is present, the discharge may be collected without inserting a sampling device. Females on the other hand tend to be asymptomatic when infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Endocervical specimens are most often obtained for culture by inserting a speculum into the vaginal canal to allow visualization of vaginal and cervical architecture. After ectocervical mucus is adequately removed a urogenital dacron or cotton swab is inserted into the endocervical canal for 30 seconds and rotated before removal.