Description: | This Gram-stained photomicrograph revealed the presence of what was termed as “deceptive” extracellular diplococcal bacteria. Of importance, a bacterial culture returned a negative result. Because investigations of sexual abuse may be initiated on the basis of a laboratory diagnosis of gonorrhea, it is important that only strains of N. gonorrhoeae be identified, and reported as N. gonorrhoeae.Several Neisseria and related species may be misidentified as N. gonorrhoeae unless appropriate differential tests are performed. |