A simple carbohydrate fermentation test for identification of the pathogenic Neisseria.

The carbohydrate fermentation test in cystine-Trypticase agar-tubed medium was compared with the Minitek system with carbohydrate-impregnated paper disks in Müeller-Hinton broth for identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. There was 100% agreement between the methods for confirmation of N. meningitidis. The paper disk method confirmed 98% of the N. gonorrhoeae isolates; the cystine-Trypticase agar method confirmed 96%. Reactions with the paper disk method could be read in 4 h.