Laboratory evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Jul;107(7):460-1. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trt041. Epub 2013 May 16.

Abstract

Background: Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur periodically in the African 'meningitis belt' and are mainly, but not only, due to serogroup A.

Methods: We tested a dipstick as a rapid detection test (RDT) to detect serogroup A using 401 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples.

Results: The detection limits were 10(5) CFU/ml with sensitivity and specificity for detecting serogroup A in CSF samples of 88% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusions: The new RDT can be used in field surveillance of meningococcal meningitis to help characterize meningitis cases particularly after introduction of the conjugate vaccine against serogroup A.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Meningitis; Neisseria meningitidis; Rapid test; Serogroup A.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic