Chlamydia and gonorrhea
Advanced testing, accurate answers
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. Often initially asymptomatic, these bacterial infections can lead to serious health concerns if left untreated. Early identification reduces the risk of disease spread and supports access to appropriate treatment, which is important to reduce the risk of infertility in women.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories offers a full menu of advanced testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. Including self-collection options, our molecular testing provides high clinical sensitivity and specificity as compared to culture or alternative detection techniques, delivering accurate answers that support improved outcomes.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea test menu
Chlamydia and gonorrhea self-collection
Self-collection testing offers a private alternative for patients who prefer not to have a healthcare worker collect the specimen. These samples are processed using the same PCR method as clinician-collected samples.
Key testing
- SCCGV | Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Self-Collect, Amplified RNA, Vaginal
- SCCGT | Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Self-Collect, Amplified RNA, Throat
- SCCGR | Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Self-Collect, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Rectal
Highlights
In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, discuss the latest developments in self-collection testing for women’s health and beyond.
Molecular testing
Compared to culture, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) provides superior sensitivity and specificity and is now considered the reference standard method for the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.
Key testing
- CTRNA | Chlamydia trachomatis, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies
- MCRNA | Chlamydia trachomatis, Miscellaneous Sites, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies
- Detects Chlamydia trachomatis in ocular, peritoneal, and nasopharyngeal (for pediatric patients < 6 months) specimens.
- CGRNA | Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies
- GCRNA | Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies
- MGRNA | Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Miscellaneous Sites, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Varies
- Detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae in ocular and peritoneal specimens.
References
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2024 (Provisional. Centers for Disease Control STI Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/sti-statistics/annual/index.html. Published Sept. 24, 2025. Accessed April 16, 2026.