Gonorrhea

Reportable by Laboratories and Providers

About this Reportable Disease

Infectious agent: Gonorrhea, caused by the gram negative diplococci bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Description of illness: Gonorrhea is a common bacterial STD that can infect the genitals, oropharynx, and rectum of both men and women. Gonorrhea is spread from person to person during sexual contact and can be asymptomatic. If symptoms occur they may include: painful urination, abnormal discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum, bleeding between periods, and painful bowel movements. Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics but there is a risk for the development of antibiotic resistant infections. Without treatment, gonorrhea can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, leading to an increased risk for ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Rarely, untreated gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints. All sexually active women under 25 years of age and men who have sex with men should be screened annually and more often if at risk. Additionally, sexually active men in high prevalence settings and women greater than 25 years of age who are at risk (more than one sex partner, a partner with concurrent partners, or a partner with an STD) should be screened.

Interactive Disease Data

Laboratory Reporting for this Disease

Neisseria gonorrhoeae Culture

TEST NAME	Neisseria gonorrhoeae Culture
DISEASE/DISORDER	Gonorrhea, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Epididymitis, Septic Arthritis
ALTERNATE NAME(S)	GC Culture, Gonorrhea culture - Neisseria gonorrhoeae
METHODOLOGY	Culture
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS	Culture should be allowed to grow on media and incubated at 35-37°C plus 5% carbon-dioxide (CO2) for 24 hours prior to shipping.
ORDERING INFORMATION	Lab Web Portal

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation	None
Specimen Collection	Pure culture on InTray Transport Media, Martin Lewis Media, or Chocolate plate/slant and incubate at 35-37°C plus 5% carbon dioxide (CO2) for 24 hours.
Specimen Labeling	Specimen should be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers along with specimen source and match accompanying test order.
Specimen Processing	Incubate at 35-37°C plus 5% carbon dioxide (CO2) for 24 hours.
Specimen Storage and Preservation	Incubate at 35-37°C plus 5% carbon dioxide (CO2) for 24 hours.
Specimen Transport	Transport culture in ambient conditions. Preferably, utilize InTray Transport Media to maintain 5% CO2 conditions. Do not send refrigerated or frozen. All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180).
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection	Specimens that do not meet all specimen requirements will be rejected.
Testing Location	Nashville

Chlamydia trachomatis/Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigen detection

TEST NAME	Chlamydia trachomatis / Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigen detection by Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAAT)
DISEASE/DISORDER	Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae
ALTERNATIVE NAME(S)	Chlamydia, CT; GC, Gonorrhea
METHODOLOGY	Aptima Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection assay by nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) using the Hologic Panther System
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS	This assay is not approved for use in patients < 14 years of age.
ORDERING INFORMATION	Lab Web Portal PTBMIS: URINE: Test Order Code: GENPU Test Order Description: GEN PROBE, URINE UROGENITAL PENILE SWAB: Test Order Code: GENPP Test Order Description: GEN PROBE, UROGENITAL PENILE SW ENDOCERVICAL: Test Order Code: GENPE Test Order Description: GEN PROBE ENDOCERVICAL THROAT: Test Order Code: GENPO Test Order Description: GEN PROBE THROAT VAGINAL: Test Order Code: GENPV Test Order Description: GEN PROBE VAGINAL ANAL: Test Order Code: GENPA Test Order Description: GEN PROBE ANAL

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation	Refer to manufacturer instructions provided with collection kits for specific patient preparation information. Only the following specimen types will be accepted for testing: Clinician-collected endocervical, vaginal, throat, rectal, and male urethral swabs, female and male urine, patient-collected vaginal swab. Specimens must be collected using the specified Aptima Specimen Collection Kit.
Specimen Collection	Aptima Urine Specimen Collection Kit: female and male urine. Aptima Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit: vaginal, throat, and rectal specimens. Aptima Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit: endocervical and male urethral specimens. Refer to appropriate specimen collection kit package insert for collection instructions. Do not touch or mark upon the collection vials’ pierceable foil cap.
Specimen Processing	After collection, place patient sample in biohazard bag with absorbent material using care not to touch the foil cap.
Specimen Labeling	Specimen should be labled with at least two unique patient identifiers and specimen source and match accompanying test order.
Specimen Storage and Preservation	After collection, place patient sample in an individual biohazard bag with absorbent material using care not to touch the foil cap. All specimens for an individual patient may be combined in one biohazard bag. Store and transport at 2 - 30°C; must arrive within 72 hours of collection. If specimens will not arrive at the laboratory within 72 hours, specimens may be stored at 4-30°C for up to 30 days. If longer storage is needed, freeze specimens in the Aptima specimen transport tube within seven (7) days of collection at -20°C to -70°C to allow testing up to twelve (12) months after collection.
Specimen Transportation	Specimens must be placed in an individual biohazard bag with absorbent material and should be shipped to the laboratory on the day of collection. All specimens for an individual patient may be combined in one biohazard bag. Store and transport at 2 - 30°C; must arrive within 72 hours of collection. If specimens will not arrive at the laboratory within 72 hours, specimens may be stored at 4-30°C for up to 30 days. All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180).
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection	Specimens collected from patients <14 years of age will be rejected. If expiration date on tube is prior to collection date, specimen will be rejected. Specimens received in improper collection kits and/or from unapproved specimen sites will be rejected. Urine specimens that are filled above or below the urine collection tube’s fill lines will be rejected. Specimens received with no swab, two swabs, a cleaning swab, and/or a swab not supplied by Hologic will be rejected. Cadaveric patient specimens will be rejected. Specimens with clerical errors in the lab order or on the specimen tube will be rejected. Unlabeled or improperly identified specimens will be rejected. Specimens transported or stored at incorrect temperatures will be rejected. Specimens received past manufacturer's viability from the date of collection will be rejected.
Testing Location	Nashville Knoxville

Laboratory Reporting

Reporting requirements apply to all laboratories located within Tennessee, as well as laboratories outside of Tennessee that test residents of Tennessee, including laboratories located within healthcare facilities. Healthcare providers and laboratories in the same healthcare facility both have a duty to report. The type of organisms and analytes laboratories must report to TDH for 2026 are indicated, and there are several ways laboratories can report results to TDH.

Manually report results to TDH by faxing or mailing a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department, or faxing to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
Automatically submit results to TDH via electronic laboratory reporting (ELR), which automates the process of sharing data with TDH using interoperability standards.
- See the ELR Onboarding Handbook for details on the onboarding process, checklist, frequently asked questions, business rules, message format, and vocabulary.
- To initiate the ELR onboarding process with TDH, register in the Trading Partner Registration (TPR) system TPR provides documentation for Promoting Interoperability (PI) attestation and milestone letters to document onboarding progress. Contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.

Information about this Reportable Disease for Healthcare Providers

Clinical Summary

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat; many people have no symptoms but can still transmit infection.
When symptoms occur, they may include painful urination and abnormal discharge; infections can also cause rectal symptoms or sore throat depending on the site. Untreated infection can lead to serious complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility, and can spread from a pregnant woman to a baby during childbirth.
Diagnosis is typically by NAAT (urine and/or site-specific swabs based on exposure). CDC recommends ceftriaxone 500 mg IM in a single dose for uncomplicated gonorrhea (with additional management when chlamydia hasn’t been excluded).
Public health actions are important: ensure partner evaluation and treatment to prevent reinfection; CDC notes Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) can be considered when partners are unlikely to access timely care. In Tennessee, gonorrhea is a reportable condition for surveillance and control.

Clinical Links & Info

Review Clinical Guidance for STIs | CDC

Disease Surveillance and Trends | CDC

Clinical Care for Gonorrhea | CDC

Review STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) | CDC

Healthcare Provider Reporting

Healthcare reporting requirements apply to all providers located within Tennessee, as well as providers whose patients reside in Tennessee.

Providers must report cases of all diseases and conditions listed through one of these methods:

• Mail or fax a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department or fax to the state health office at (615) 741-3857

• Send automatically via electronic case reporting (eCR). See this TDH webpage for more information on eCR, register at the Trader Partner Registration website, or contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.

• Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.

• Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.

Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public

What It Is

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat, and many people have no symptoms but can still spread it.

Signs and Symptoms

Some people do not notice symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include painful urination and unusual discharge, and infections can also cause rectal symptoms or a sore throat, depending on the site of infection. An untreated infection can lead to complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and other serious health problems described under Gonorrhea symptoms and complications.

How It Spreads

Gonorrhea spreads through sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral sex) with an infected person and can also pass from a pregnant person to a baby during childbirth.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Gonorrhea is diagnosed with laboratory testing, commonly a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) using urine and/or swabs from exposed sites. CDC’s recommended treatment and clinical guidance are summarized in Gonorrhea clinical care.

Prevention and What to Do Next

Correct and consistent condom use reduces the risk of gonorrhea and other STIs. CDC outlines who should consider routine testing in STI screening recommendations. If you think you were exposed or have symptoms, testing and treatment help prevent complications and reduce spread, and recent sex partners may also need evaluation and treatment as described in Gonorrhea clinical care.

This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 8:53 PM