Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 37

Synovial fluid cultures are often plated on chocolate agar to detect the presence of:

A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae

B. Staphylococcus agalactiae

C. Streptococcus viridans

D. Enterococcus faecalis

Step 1 of 2

Neisseria gonorrhoeae :

In microbiological tests, the “gram stains” and “cultures” are two most significant test performed on synovial fluid to determine systematic infections.

• In this test, the bacterial infection is the most often occurring infection.

• The bacterial cultures test should consist of an enrichment medium, like “chocolate agar”.

o Because, in addition with “staphylococcus” and “streptococcus”, the “Hemophilus” and “Neisseria gonorrhoeae” are the two other common organisms which affects synovial fluid.

o So, the process of placing synovial fluid cultures on enrichment medium like “chocolate agar” helps to detect the existence of “Neisseria gonorrhoeae”.

Therefore, the synovial fluid cultures are often placed on chocolate agar to detect the presence of “Neisseria gonorrhoeae”. Hence, the correct answer is option.