Comparison of Transgrow and T-M Media for Neisseria meningitidis Surveys

Transgrow, a modified Thayer-Martin medium, was used to transport meningococci through time and space and to cultivate the organisms upon incubation. Parallel studies of meningococcal carrier rates among Army recruits were made using hand-carried, air-shipped T-M plates and mailed bottles of Transgrow media. The results of parallel tests of specimens from 634 recruits when T-M and Transgrow media were compared follow: 204 specimens grown on Thayer-Martin medium were positive, as were 191 grown on Transgrow. Transgrow medium, used as described in this paper, was 93 percent as effective as the T-M plate medium. The difference was not significant.