title: The impact of meningococcal polymerase chain reaction testing on laboratory confirmation of invasive meningococcal disease.
abstract: Laboratory methods of diagnosis were examined for 266 children with invasive meningococcal disease. Seventy-five (36%) of 207 cases with bloodstream infection had both positive blood culture and blood meningococcal polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 130 (63%) negative blood culture and positive blood PCR, and 2 (1%) had positive blood culture and negative blood PCR. Sixty-three percent of cases were diagnosed by PCR alone.
authors.affiliation: Irish Meningococcal and Meningitis Reference Laboratory (IMMRL), The Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. richard.drew@alderhey.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Cilian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ó  Maoldomhnaigh
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O' Sullivan
authors.forename: Karina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cafferkey
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity