Final answer:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae can grow on blood agar but preferentially grows on chocolate agar, which is better suited to their nutritional needs. These bacteria are oxidase positive and utilize glucose and maltose for energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, can grow on blood agar although growth is better supported on chocolate agar, which is supplemented by partially hemolyzed red blood cells. This is because Neisseria species are fastidious and grow best in media with added nutrients, such as chocolate agar, that provides the necessary factors for their growth. The growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on blood agar would form gray, nonhemolytic colonies and these bacteria are oxidase positive and able to utilize glucose and maltose. While blood agar can support the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, it is important to note that their growth on this medium is not as diagnostic as on chocolate agar where they thrive due to its specialized composition that caters to their growth requirements.