Laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease in Scotland, 1993-9.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease, using culture and non-culture based techniques, between 1993 and 1999 as part of a national service in Scotland.


METHODS
Samples from patients with suspected meningococcal disease in Scotland were analysed by culture and non-culture based techniques to gain a laboratory confirmation of disease. Data were analysed to establish the number of disease cases, the serogroups of the organisms involved, and the importance of the techniques used.


RESULTS
Between 1993 and 1999, there was a total of 1749 notified cases of meningococcal disease in Scotland. Culture based methods provided a laboratory confirmation of 788 cases whereas non-culture techniques confirmed 461 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-culture techniques were a useful addition to culture based techniques in Scotland and improved the dataset required for public health management, disease surveillance, and vaccine policy.
Clarke
S C
SC
Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, House on the Hill, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW, UK. stuart.clarke@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
Reid
J
J
Thom
L
L
Denham
B C
BC
Edwards
G F S
GF
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012606:Scotland
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial