Neisseria confirmation by an enriched, bicarbonate-containing carbohydrate medium.

A sugar fermentation medium for the confirmation of Neisseria and related species was developed. The medium contained a commercial supplement and a hemoglobin source prepared from lysed sheep erythrocytes. Bicarbonate in the medium substituted for a CO2-supplemented atmosphere. The medium was dispensed into screw-capped tubes. This medium was compared to cystine-Trypticase agar and the modified rapid fermentation test in the confirmation of Neisseria species. Performance of the new medium was equivalent to that of the modified rapid fermentation test, but cystine-Trypticase agar failed to confirm a significant number of clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.