Comparison of the Gono-Pak system with the candle extinction jar for recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Maximum CO2 levels in the Gono-Pak system were obtained 2 h after activation, with a mean value of 1.5%. Although this is less than the 2 to 3% CO2 level obtained with the candle jar, Gono-Pak produced comparable recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 357 clinical specimens and stock cultures. Using adjustable CO2 incubators, we found the recovery at 1% CO2 to be comparable to that at 5%, whereas 10% CO2 was inhibitory.