Abstract:

Objective To study the role of real-time fluorescence quantitation polymerase chain reaction（PCR） for Neisseria meningitidis（Nm） determination. Methods A total of 70 cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected from patients with suspected meningitis. One part was performed bacterial culturing,and another part was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR. The positive rates,sensitivities and specificities of the 2 methods were compared. Results The positive rate of Nm by bacterial culturing was 70.00%（49 cases）. Real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR showed a positive rate of 95.71%（67 cases）. There was statistical significance for the positive rates between the 2 methods（P<0.05）. The results of real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR and bacterial culturing showed a consistency rate of 70.00%. There were 18 cases being negative by bacterial culturing but being positive by real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR. The specificity of real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR was 100%,and no false negative results were obtained. The positive and negative predictive values were 73.13% and 0.00%,respectively. The lower limit of determination was 10³ copies /mL. The linear range was 2×10³-2×10⁷ copies/L. Conclusions Real-time fluorescence quantitation PCR for Nm determination has high sensitivity and specificity and is rapid and convenient,which can be used for the etiological diagnosis of meningitis epidemiology.

Key words: Neisseria meningitidis, Meningococcal meningitis, Real-time fluorescence quantitation polymerase chain reaction