> What happens around the world? What use is being made of a PCR test in
> the diagnosis of meningococcal disease?
> I understand that PCR positive cases are regarded as definite cases in
> some countries
> If this is true our reporting rate for this disease is about to more
> than double
Off the question a bit, but meningococcal disease is underreported. In East
Birmingham Hospital a few years back the infectious disease bods cultured
scrapings from all purpuric rashes even in a lot of clinically well people.
They got back an awful lot of meningococci. Most places only consider it if
the patient is really unwell, but I think there's a lot of mild cases
around. Lot we don't know (bearing in mind they had a 100% specific test for
meningococcal rash- I'm not sure of the specificity of PCR). Major
implications for contact prophylaxis.
BTW if nobody else answers Ernest Yeoh's question, PCR = Polymerase Chain
Reaction- a sort of serology thing. The good thing in meningococcaemia is
that it remains positive after antibiotics. That's all I know about it, but
I'm sure there must be a registrar somewhere with a recent MRCP who can do
the details.
Matt Dunn
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