Improved transport system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens

Protective transport media have to be used to preserve Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens during their transit to the laboratory. In this study, a CO2- environment chamber, the Jembec chamber, was used for transport of clinical speciments requiring examination for gonococci. The survival of N. gonorrhoeae present in clinical speciments when placed in Amies charcoal transport medium was compared to their survival when inoculated into Jembec chambers containing either modified Thayer-Martin medium (MTM) or modified New York City transport medium (MNYC). For a period of up to 2 days in transit, the three systems were not significantly different. However, after 3 days in transit, MNYC/Jembec chambers preserved significantly more gonococci than Amies charcoal transport meduim (P less than 0.0001) or MTM/Jembec chambers (P=0.006). MNYC/Jembec chambers withstood 241 miles (386 km) of postal transit during winter months; 80% of the gonococci present in clinical specimens remained viable from 2 to 5 days under these conditions. The CO2 generated by the tablet in the Jembec chamber was suggicient to support the growth of N. gonorrhoeae if the chambers were incubated at 36 C immediately after inoculation. However, if delayed in transit, the chambers had to be incubated in 5 to 10% CO2 to promote the growth of N. gonorrhoeae. MNYC/Jembec chambers provide a selective environment that will protect and maintain the viability of N. gonorrhoeae for extended periods, allowing a reasonable time for postal transit of clinical specimens to the laboratory.