Question

An individual with urethral exudate is screened for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, using a point-of-care (POC) rapid diagnosis test. Which of the following would be a disadvantage of using a POC test rather than culturing the exudate?

Choose one:
A. A POC test would provide more rapid results.
B. Other pathogens present are more likely to be overlooked.
C. The clinician could begin therapy immediately.
D. The patient could be notified before leaving the doctor's office.

Answer 1

Using a point-of-care (POC) rapid diagnosis test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae may result in overlooking other pathogens present in the exudate, which can be a disadvantage compared to culturing the exudate. Culturing allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the sample, increasing the chances of identifying any potential co-infections or other pathogens.

Step-by-step explanation:

One disadvantage of using a point-of-care (POC) rapid diagnosis test instead of culturing the exudate for Neisseria gonorrhoeae is that other pathogens present are more likely to be overlooked. The POC test may have lower specificity and sensitivity compared to culture, meaning that it may not accurately detect all infections. Culturing the exudate allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the sample, increasing the chances of identifying any potential co-infections or other pathogens.