Factors influencing the recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from patients were studied. By comparison of the survival times of N. gonorrhoeae in Amies and modified Thayer-Martin media at different temperatures, it was found that the organism survived better at low temperature in the former medium, but at higher temperature on the latter. Even at 4 C, N. gonorrhoeae showed a loss of viability in Amies medium. Culture plates inoculated with cervical specimens can be kept in a CO2-enriched environment at high ambient temperature (approximately 24-30 C) for 18-24 hr before incubation with only a slight loss in isolation rate. Urine specimens are unsuitable for recovery of N. gonorrhoeae from female prostitutes, and urine specimens from male patients should not be kept overnight. Non-penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae isolates from prostitutes not only had fewer colonies on culture plates but also required more time for growth to be visible.