Interlaboratory comparison of PCR-based identification and genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis

Muhamed Kheir Taha*, Jean Michel Alonso, Mary Cafferkey, Dominique A. Caugant, Stuart C. Clarke, Mathew A. Diggle, Andrew Fox, Matthias Frosch, Stephen J. Gray, Malcolm Guiver, Sigrid Heuberger, Jitka Kalmusova, Konstantinos Kesanopoulos, Anne Marie Klem, Paula Kriz, John Marsh, Paula Mölling, Karen Murphy, Per Olcén, Oumar SanouGeorgina Tzanakaki, Ulrich Vogel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Twenty clinical samples (18 cerebrospinal fluid samples and 2 articular fluid samples) were sent to 11 meningococcus reference centers located in 11 different countries. Ten of these laboratories are participating in the EU-MenNet program (a European Union-funded program) and are members of the European Monitoring Group on Meningococci. The remaining laboratory was located in Burkina Faso. Neisseria meningitidis was sought by detecting several meningococcus-specific genes (crgA, ctrA, 16S rRNA, and porA). The PCR-based nonculture method for the detection of N. meningitidis gave similar results between participants with a mean sensitivity and specificity of 89.7 and 92.7%, respectively. Most of the laboratories also performed genogrouping assays (siaD and mynB/sacC). The performance of genogrouping was more variable between laboratories, with a mean sensitivity of 72.7%. Genogroup B gave the best correlation between participants, as all laboratories routinely perform this PCR. The results for genogroups A and W135 were less similar between the eight participating laboratories that performed these PCRs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-149
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Clinical Microbiology
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2005

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