Meningococcemia laboratory tests


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:

Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies

 * Blood cultures were positive in 41.4% of 400 cultures in one series of patients with meningococcal disease.
 * Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and gram stain were positive in 94% of patients in the same series.
 * The ability to culture the meningococcus from CSF will not be substantially reduced if the cultures are obtained within one hour of antibiotic administration.
 * One series revealed a median leukocyte count of approximately 1200 in CSF (range 10 to 65,000/mm). Approximately 75% had a CSF glucose level less than 40 mg/100 mL. CSF protein ranged from 25 to over 800 mg/100 mL with a median value of 150 mg/100 mL.
 * Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been shown in a study with 54 samples to be 91% sensitive and specific, particularly useful when cultures may be negative due to prior antibiotic administration.
 * Latex agglutination can detect A, B, C, Y, and W-135 though the sensitivity of detecting serogroup B is low.