What should you know about a urine NAAT gonorrhea test?

A urine NAAT gonorrhea test looks for genetic material from the bacteria that cause gonorrhea. It uses a urine sample and is designed to detect infection in the urinary or genital tract, including when symptoms are mild or absent.

A positive result means gonorrhea was detected in the sample and needs medical treatment. Burning when urinating, discharge, pelvic or testicular pain, bleeding between periods, or no symptoms at all can occur. A urine test may not check every exposed site, so tell the clinician about oral or anal sexual exposure; swabs may be needed for those areas.

A negative result lowers concern for infection at the site tested, but timing, recent antibiotics, and the collection method can affect interpretation. A urinary infection has different causes, so a separate assessment may be needed if symptoms continue.

Follow the clinic’s collection instructions and share any recent antibiotics or sexual exposure details. If the result is positive, take the prescribed [Antibiotic Treatment](/treatments/medical-management/antibiotic-treatment/) exactly as directed, avoid sexual contact until the clinician says it is safe, and ask how partners should be notified and tested. Do not use leftover antibiotics.

Arrange any recommended follow-up testing, particularly if symptoms persist or exposure involved another body site. A general [Urine Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/urine-test/) may be useful when the clinician is considering other urinary causes.

Seek urgent care for severe pelvic or abdominal pain, fever with worsening illness, swollen or very painful testicles, joint pain with a rash, eye pain or discharge, or pregnancy with concerning symptoms. These features can indicate complications requiring prompt treatment.

Ask which body sites were tested, when sexual contact can safely resume, whether partners need testing, whether other sexually transmitted infections should be checked, and what to do if symptoms remain after treatment.