GC AGAR BASE

Majority of gonococcal infections are uncomplicated lower genital tract infection caused by direct infection of the columnar epithelium of mucosal membranes. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of gonococcal infections. Most Neisseria strains have complex growth requirements; some strains may be exquisitely sensitive to fatty acids, necessitating the incorporation of soluble starch in the growth media. Johnston developed a medium that could obtain the growth of Neisseria within 24 hours rather than the usual 48 hours. This medium was later modified by Carpenter and Morton, by the addition of haemoglobin. Thayer and Martin improved the selectivity of GC Medium by the incorporation of the antibiotics colistin, vancomycin and nystatin. An additional antibiotic trimethoprim lactate was later coupled with V.C.N. to further increase the selectivity of the medium. For the cultivation of fastidious organisms the medium should be supplemented with essential growth factors supplied predominantly by yeast extract. This can be replaced with a chemically defined supplement containing essential growth factors available from yeast extract in Vitamino Growth Supplement (Twin Pack). X-factor needed for the growth of fastidious Haemophilus species is provided by haemoglobin.

for selective isolation and cultivation of Gonococci