TY - JOUR T1 - Laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease in Scotland, 1993–9 JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology JO - J Clin Pathol SP - 32 LP - 36 VL - 55 IS - 1 AU - S C Clarke AU - J Reid AU - L Thom AU - B C Denham AU - G F S Edwards Y1 - 2002/01/01 UR - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/55/1/32.abstract N2 - Aims: To describe the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease, using culture and non-culture based techniques, between 1993 and 1999 as part of a national service in Scotland. Methods: Samples from patients with suspected meningococcal disease in Scotland were analysed by culture and non-culture based techniques to gain a laboratory confirmation of disease. Data were analysed to establish the number of disease cases, the serogroups of the organisms involved, and the importance of the techniques used. Results: Between 1993 and 1999, there was a total of 1749 notified cases of meningococcal disease in Scotland. Culture based methods provided a laboratory confirmation of 788 cases whereas non-culture techniques confirmed 461 cases. Conclusions: Non-culture techniques were a useful addition to culture based techniques in Scotland and improved the dataset required for public health management, disease surveillance, and vaccine policy. ER -