Table 2

Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture recovery by time of culture collection and anatomical location

Interval from screening day to day of culture specimen collection	Anatomical site	Number of culture specimens	Culture specimens positive for N. gonorrhoeae		P value
	Anatomical site	Number of culture specimens	Number	%	P value
≤3 days	Pharynx	149	38	25.5	Ref
	Rectum	75	49	65.3
	Vaginal	12	4	33.3
	Urine	4	3	75
	Total	240	94	39.2
4–7 days	Pharynx	81	19	23.4	0.7245	≤3 days vs 4–7 days
	Rectum	45	28	62.2	0.7318
	Vaginal	2	0	0	ND
	Urine	2	0	0	ND
	Total	130	47	36.1	0.5578
8–14 days	Pharynx	102	11	10.7	0.0036	≤3 days vs 8–14 days
	Rectum	69	41	59.4	0.4651
	Vaginal	1	0	0	ND
	Urine	0	0	NA	NA
	Total	173	52	30.0	0.1933
≥15 days	Pharynx	22	1	4.5	0.0287	≤3 days vs ≥15 days*
	Rectum	18	6	33.3	0.0131
	Vaginal	0	0	NA
	Urine	1	1	100
	Total	41	8	19.5	0.0154

Due to the lower number of specimens (n=22), statistical analysis of the effect of time on culture yield was not performed in genital specimens.
*Longest delay by sample type: pharynx (32 days), rectum (29 days), vaginal (12 days) urine (15 days).
NA, not applicable; ND, not determined.