Evaluation of a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assay for Neisseria meningitidis in North America and field experience during an outbreak.

Journal article

CONTEXT: Meningococcal infection has a high public profile because of its dramatic presentation, high fatality rate, and propensity to occur in outbreaks and clusters of cases. Use of a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay could enhance laboratory confirmation of cases and guide the public health response in North America. OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of a PCR assay for the diagnosis of meningococcal disease after its implementation in a North American setting and to eval...

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Authors: Pollard, A; Probe, G; Trombley, C; Castell, A; Whitehead, S

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Archives of pathology and laboratory medicine
• Volume: 126
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1209-1215
• Publication date: 2002-10-01
• DOI: 10.1043/0003-9985(2002)126<1209:EOADPC>2.0.CO;2
• EISSN: 1543-2165
• ISSN: 0003-9985
• Language: English
• Keywords: Child; Adolescent; Child, Preschool; Polymerase Chain Reaction; DNA, Bacterial; Disease Outbreaks; Neisseria meningitidis; Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Infant; Female; Male; DNA Primers; Microbiological Techniques; British Columbia; Adult; Meningitis, Meningococcal; Humans; Survival Rate