Neisseria gonorrhoeae Identification in Direct Smears by a Fluorescent Antibody-Counterstain Method

Direct smears from female patients have been considered unreliable for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by fluorescent-antibody (FA) methods because of inadequate background contrast of the fluorescent-stained smears and a scarcity of organisms on the smear. Evans blue dye employed as a counterstain eliminated the nonspecific background staining and increased the reliability of the direct FA procedure. Direct smears demonstrating positive fluorescence were obtained from 86% of a group of culturally positive named female contacts. The FA-counterstain technique is as sensitive as the presently recommended cultural procedures.