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

Taha, Muhamed-Kheir, Alonso, Jean-Michel, Cafferkey, Mary, Caugant, Dominique A, Clarke, Stuart C, Diggle, Mathew A, Fox, Andrew, Frosch, Matthias, Gray, Stephen J, Guiver, Malcolm, Heuberger, Sigrid, Kalmusova, Jitka, Kesanopoulos, Konstantinos, Klem, Anne-Marie, Kriz, Paula, Marsh, John, Mölling, Paula, Murphy, Karen, Olcén, Per, Sanou, Oumar, Tzanakaki, Georgina and Vogel, Ulrich (2005) Interlaboratory comparison of PCR-based identification and genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43 (1), 144-9. (doi:10.1128/JCM.43.1.144-149.2005).

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.

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Contributors

Author: Stuart C Clarke

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