Amies is an improved transport medium containing charcoal to prolong the viability of pathogenic organisms. It is a semi-solid medium recommended for qualitative procedures for transporting clinical swab specimens to the laboratory. Amies is a modified Stuart transport medium produced by replacing glycerophosphate with an inorganic phosphate buffer and adding charcoal to the medium. This modified medium yielded a higher percentage of positive results than the Stuart transport medium. The Amies transport medium provides a reduced environment due to the presence of sodium thioglycollate and the small amount of agar. Charcoal helps neutralize materials that are toxic to sensitive pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium salts help gonococcal cell survival and also control the permeability of bacterial cells. Phosphates act as a buffer for the medium.