Comparison of methylene blue/gentian violet stain to Gram's stain for the rapid diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis in men

Sex Transm Dis. 2011 Nov;38(11):995-6. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318225f7c2.

Abstract

We compared a simple, one-step staining procedure using a mixture of methylene blue and gentian violet to Gram stain for the detection of gonococcal urethritis. The sensitivity and specificity of both Gram stain and methylene blue/gentian violet stain were 97.3% and 99.6%, respectively. There was a 100% correlation between the 2 methods.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Gentian Violet*
  • Gonorrhea / diagnosis*
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylene Blue*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Phenazines*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*
  • Urethritis / diagnosis*
  • Urethritis / microbiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Gram's stain
  • Phenazines
  • Gentian Violet
  • Methylene Blue