Screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in a donor insemination programme

Abstract

Cultures of all 4450 specimens of semen from 193 semen donors were negative for N. gonorrhoeae. A MicroTrak direct fluorescence microscopy test for the detection of Ch. trachomatis was used to screen 448 specimens from all 268 recipients of semen on an insemination programme for 3 1/2 years; all pre-insemination endocervical samples and all subsequent endocervical samples were negative. It is considered that the incidence of gonorrhoeae or chlamydia in our recipients or donors is very low. Fluorescence microscopy is a specific and cost-effective screening technique for Ch. trachomatis.