title: Interlaboratory comparison of PCR-based identification and genogrouping of Neisseria meningitidis.
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.
authors.affiliation: Neisseria Unit and the French National Reference Center for Meningococci, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. mktaha@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Muhamed-Kheir
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cafferkey
authors.forename: Dominique A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caugant
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Mathew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Diggle
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frosch
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guiver
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heuberger
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalmusova
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kesanopoulos
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Klem
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kriz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mölling
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olcén
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanou
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzanakaki
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial