PRAGMATIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DETECTION OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (5) , 649-652
Abstract
The effects of the suboptimal temperature caused by delayed incubation or prolonged transport on the recovery of N. gonorrhoeae were studied in 2 separate patient populations. The individual components of the John E. Martin Biological Environmental Chamber were used to define more precisely other variables that might influence the incidence of recovery. In a study of 1500 urethral and endocervical specimens processed in parallel for N. gonorrhoeae, results quantitatively and qualitatively superior were achieved when an immediate source of CO2 and a zip-lock bag were used. The zip-lock bag appears to be a significant factor in the enhanced demonstration of N. gonorrhoeae. Failure to incubate specimens before transportation decreased the numeric representation of N. gonorrhoeae in 50 sets of triple cultures studied in parallel. Most low-inoculum cultures subjected to prolonged transportation without prior incubation will not demonstrate the presence of N. gonorrhoeae. Even if preincubated before transportation, the cultures demonstrate a significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units per plate when subjected to normal room temperature during the course of transportation.

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