RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Introduction of an automated service for the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease in Scotland
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 556
OP 557
DO 10.1136/jcp.54.7.556
VO 54
IS 7
A1 S C Clarke
A1 M A Diggle
A1 J A Reid
A1 L Thom
A1 G F S Edwards
YR 2001
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/54/7/556.abstract
AB The Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory provides a national service for the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal and pneumococcal disease in Scotland. The main tests used for the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease are culture, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antibody testing, and more recently DNA sequencing. This paper describes the automation of PCR for the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease and the typing of meningococcal isolates using DNA sequencing. Both methods have been automated using a robotic liquid handler and automated DNA sequencer. These methods, along with standard culture phenotyping and antibody testing, provide Scotland with an excellent service for the confirmation of meningococcal disease.