Anaerobic survival of clinical isolates and laboratory strains of Neisseria gonorrhoea: use in transfer and storage.

Eleven laboratory strains and 67 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were tested for the ability to survive during anaerobic incubation. The survival of the laboratory strains was dependent on auxotype, temperature, and cell density on agar plates. For both the laboratory strains and the clinical isolates, anaerobic survival was better at lower temperatures. We concluded that anaerobic incubation, for as long as 7 days, is useful when transporting or storing N. gonorrhoeae.