The use of Thayer-Martin agar in the laboratory involves several steps:
1. Sample Collection: Specimens such as urethral swabs, cervical swabs, throat swabs, or cerebrospinal fluid are collected from patients suspected of having gonorrhea or meningitis.
2. Inoculation: The collected samples are streaked onto Thayer-Martin agar plates under sterile conditions to avoid contamination.
3. Incubation: The inoculated plates are incubated at 35-37°C in a CO2-enriched atmosphere, usually for 24-48 hours.
4. Identification: After incubation, colonies exhibiting characteristic morphology are subjected to further tests, such as oxidase testing, Gram staining, and biochemical assays to confirm the presence of Neisseria species.
