Interlaboratory comparison of PCR-based identification and genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis.
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.
Taha
Muhamed-Kheir
MK
Neisseria Unit and the French National Reference Center for Meningococci, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. mktaha@pasteur.fr
Alonso
Jean-Michel
JM
Cafferkey
Mary
M
Caugant
Dominique A
DA
Clarke
Stuart C
SC
Diggle
Mathew A
MA
Fox
Andrew
A
Frosch
Matthias
M
Gray
Stephen J
SJ
Guiver
Malcolm
M
Heuberger
Sigrid
S
Kalmusova
Jitka
J
Kesanopoulos
Konstantinos
K
Klem
Anne-Marie
AM
Kriz
Paula
P
Marsh
John
J
Mölling
Paula
P
Murphy
Karen
K
Olcén
Per
P
Sanou
Oumar
O
Tzanakaki
Georgina
G
Vogel
Ulrich
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004269:DNA, Bacterial