Until recently, broth cultivation techniques for Campylobacter pylori were unavailable. We developed a method to cultivate bacterial cells within 24 h in liquid media. Cultivation in broth depended on the adequate dispersion of appropriate gases. A static broth at 37 degrees C in a GasPak jar (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.) with a CampyPak (BBL) envelope did not support growth after 5 days of incubation. A broth placed in a flask on a Gyrotory water bath shaker (150 rpm; New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc., Edison, N.J.) fitted with a gassing hood connected to a gas mixture of 10% CO2, 5% O2, and 85% N2 supported good growth. An initial inoculum of 10(5), 10(3) to 10(4), or 10(2) CFU/ml resulted in greater than or equal to 10(8) CFU/ml after incubation for 24, 48, or 72 h, respectively. Under these conditions, the bacteria grew as motile, spiral bacilli rather than the oval and coccal bacilli occasionally reported. Several bases supported good growth when supplemented with serum. For the determination of basal growth conditions, brucella broth base was used. Fetal calf serum (1%) provided maximum growth. Vitox was not necessary for growth and did not augment growth. C. pylori grew over a wide optimal pH range of 5.5 to 8.5.