Description
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram-negative bacteria and the causative agent of gonorrhea, however it is also occasionally found in the throat. The cultivation medium for gonococci should ideally be a rich nutrients base with blood, either partially lysed or completely lysed. The diagnosis and control of gonorrhea have been greatly facilitated by improved laboratory methods for detecting, isolating and studying N. gonorrhoeae. Chocolate Agar Base, with the addition of supplements, gives excellent growth of the gonococcus without overgrowth by contaminating organisms. G.C. Agar can also be used in place of Chocolate Agar Base, which gives slightly better results than Chocolate Agar. The diagnosis and control of gonorrhea have been greatly facilitated by improved laboratory methods for detecting, isolating and studying N. gonorrhoea. Interest in the cultural procedure for the diagnosis of gonococcal infection was stimulated by Ruys and Jens, Mcleod and co-workers, Thompson, Leahy and Carpenter, Carpenter, Leahy and Wilson and Carpenter, who clearly demonstrated the superiority of this method over the microscopic technique. Chocolate Agar Base with addition of supplement not only supports the growth of the gonococcus in pure culture but also permits its development from the mixed flora encountered in chronic gonococcal infections. Carpenter reported that this medium and Haemoglobin is useful for cultural detection of the gonococcus.
