Reports of the special Committee upon the Standardisation of Pathological Methods. No. 2, The laboratory diagnosis of gonococcal infections. No. 3, Methods for the detection of spirochaetes.

  • Great Britain. Medical Research Committee. Committee upon the Standardisation of Pathological Methods.
Date:
1918
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports of the special Committee upon the Standardisation of Pathological Methods. No. 2, The laboratory diagnosis of gonococcal infections. No. 3, Methods for the detection of spirochaetes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    REPORTS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE UPON THE STANDARDISATION OF PATHOLOGICAL METHODS. The Special Committee beg leave to present to the Medical Research Committee two reports upon subjects of great importance in the recog- nition of venereal disease—the laboratory diagnosis of gonococcal infec- tions and the methods for the detection of spirochaetes. They have again to acknowledge gratefully the assistance given to them by Colonel L. W. Harrison, D.S.O., K.H.P., throughout their consideration of these sub- jects and the preparation of the reports. To other workers they are also greatly indebted for help in particular directions, as will appear in the text of the reports, and to all these they would express their gratitude here. No. 2.—THE LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS. CONTENTS. ielitetory ; tts % : aaie 2 an I.—The Localities to be Gh a for the Presence of Gonococci.. sf ee II.—Methods to be employed for the Microscopic Identification of the Bore 6 Ii1.—The Cultivation of the Gonococcus ra 8 _ IV.—Methods for the Production of a Focal Geaichtel Reni is a Be ee V.—The Complement Fixation Test ... ie Nah ad 8 fue Sh nae ae | Vi.—The Keeping of Records _... ae set a ee ae se ages Te Appendices ... +63 vas a Sat es Bie my ae ae sagt ke INTRODUCTORY. The Committee desire to call attention to the special difficulties asso- ciated with the diagnosis of gonococcal infections, and to recommend the employment of methods whereby the chances of incorrect diagnosis may be reduced to a minimum. Their action is prompted by a recog- nition of the increased call made upon the bacteriological laboratories of this country under the provisions of the Venereal Diseases Act. A wrong positive diagnosis may be the means of inflicting grave injury upon the individual; a wrong negative diagnosis is lable to injure the family of the individual and the community to an even greater extent. The stage has not yet been reached at which a diagnosis can be made with certainty in all cases by bacteriological methods alone. There still remain cases of latent gonorrhea, both in the male and in the female, which fail to react to any of the bacteriological tests at present at our dis- posal. In this asin any other infectious disease bacteriological evidence cannot always replace clinical. It is an adjunct, the value of which (5/18.) (18277r.) Wt. 14927—92. 3000. s/15, D&S. G, Q, A 2