Development and evaluation of a novel test for rapid diagnosis and typing of bacterial meningitis
Research archive
- Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
- Researchers:
Dr Kevin Towner
- Project Number: 9610.0
- Category: Diagnosis
- Duration: 1997
- Start Date: 01 January 1997
- Type: Scientific
A simple user-friendly test for rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis has been devised for use in routine diagnostic laboratories. The test recognises specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products by the appearance of a simple-to-read blue line in novel immunoassay devices within 5 mins of completion of the PCR (with no need for a time-consuming electrophoresis step) and the entire test, yielding a specific diagnosis of meningitis with unequivocal identification of the infecting organism, is complete within 3 h of specimen receipt (i.e., at least 24-48 h quicker than conventional methods). This project will optimise the PCR-immunoassay test conditions for maximum sensitivity and specificity. The method will then be evaluated in comparison with conventional methods. How many organisms are required for a positive result in comparison with conventional methods? Will the new test detect more cases? How effective is the method for the direct detection of organisms in clinical specimens? Finally, to extend the method to form the basis of a rapid sophisticated typing technique suitable for use in routine diagnostic laboratories, organisms of known serotypes will be fingerprinted by repetitive-sequence PCR. Unique DNA bands for each serotype will be identified and sequenced. Appropriate primers will be designed and tested against known serotypes in the PCR-immunoassay system.
Results from this study have been published in scientific journals as follows:
Seward RJ, Towner KJ.
Use of an automated DNA analysis system (DARAS) for sequence-specific recognition of Neisseria meningitidis DNA. Clin Microbiol Infect 2000 Jan;6(1):29-33.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1469-0691.2000.00010.x
Seward RJ, Towner KJ.
Evaluation of a PCR-immunoassay technique for detection of Neisseria meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood.
J Med Microbiol 2000 May;49(5):451-6.
http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/49/5/451.pdf