The reliability of an rRNA-derived oligonucleotide probe for Neisseria gonorrhoeae was tested with 187 N. gonorrhoeae isolates, 81 Neisseria meningitidis isolates, and several strains of other bacterial species. The probe proved to be 100% specific and 100% sensitive. N. gonorrhoeae cells could also be reliably identified in contaminated cultures with the oligonucleotide probe. The 2.6-megadalton cryptic plasmid used as a probe for N. gonorrhoeae was shown to be less sensitive, detecting 179 of 181 N. gonorrhoeae isolates.