Abstract

Group-specific polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis groups A and C have been demonstrated by means of a rapid, sensitive slide agglutination test with latex particles coated with antibodies. In this manner, the diagnosis can be made from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningococcal meningitis caused by serogroups A or C even when the culture is negative. The method appears to be more sensitive than countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis and less elaborate.