Comparison of commercial diagnostic tests for identification of serogroup antigens of Neisseria meningitidis

J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Dec;33(12):3326-7. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.12.3326-3327.1995.

Abstract

In the study that is described the sensitivities and specificities of three commercial tests and the standard Reference Laboratory test, used since 1961, to identify Neisseria meningitidis serogroups were compared. The tests marketed by Difco, Murex/Wellcome, and Sanofi/Pasteur showed overall sensitivities of 92, 95, and 100%, respectively, and specificities of 67, 88, and 82%, respectively. When limited to the common serogroups A, B, and C, the three tests yielded sensitivities of 93, 97, and 100%, respectively, and specificities of 98, 100, and 98%, respectively. However, determination of the uncommon serogroups X, W-135, Y, Z, and 29E with these tests is either unreliable or not possible.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / isolation & purification*
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Neisseria meningitidis / classification*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serotyping / methods*
  • Serotyping / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial