Abstract: This paper deals with a comparison between two kinds of media, WHO supplied standard medium and home-made lyophilized medium, carried out for two years in Ledong County, Hainan Island, China. All isolates were separately determined on chloroquine plates and mefloquine plates with both media by the standard technique.On chloroquine plates, of 23 isolates, 17 were interpretable (successful rate 73.9%) in 1982, 18 of 22 isolates (successful rate 81.8%) in 1983. In control wells the maturation rate from ring form to schizont was 10-97% (average 43.1%) in 1982, and 14-100% (average 51.6%) in 1983, the number of nuclei per schizont was 3-10 (average 5.0) in 1982, and 3-6 (average 4.7) in 1983 with wHO supplied medium, while the successful rate was 100%, the maturation rate was 13-100% (average 60.8), the number of nuclei per schizont was 4-12 (average 7.9) in 1982 and 100%, 14-100% (57.2%) and 4-8 (5.6) respectively in 1983 with lyophilized medium.On mefloquine plates, 15 of 23 isolates were interpretable (65.2%). In control wells 16-97.5% of schizonts matured (42.7%), the number of nuclei per schizont was 2-8 (4.7) in 1982 and 81.8%, 16-95%(50.9%) and 3-6(4.6) respectively in 1983 with WHO supplied medium, while the successful rate was 87% with lyophilized medium, the maturation rate was 18-100%(56.7%), the number of nuclei was 2-13 (7.3) in 1982 and 100%, 13-100%(57.1%) and 4-8 (5.6) respectively in 1983.This study indicated that the effect of lyophilized medium on supporting Plasmo dium falciparum growth was better than that of WHO standard medium. The lyophilized medium has the advantages of easy carrying and time-saving and is more applicable under field conditions.