Meningococcal Disease Tests
Reviewed
Also called: Neisseria meningitidis Tests, N. meningitidis Tests
Meningococcal disease tests look for these bacteria in your blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid in spaces around your brain and spinal cord.
Specimen: blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Urgent safety information
Meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections are serious and can become deadly in a matter of hours. It's important to seek medical attention immediately and get the right diagnosis and treatment to help prevent serious health problems.
Why this test may be ordered
- To find out whether you have meningococcal disease.
- Meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections are serious and can become deadly in a matter of hours.
Preparation and collection
Talk to your provider and ask about any special preparations. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) before the test. You may also need to stop taking certain medicines, so be sure to tell your provider about everything you take. But don't stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to.
Your provider will take samples from your blood and may also take a sample from your CSF to do a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to check for the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria in your body. These samples will then be sent to a laboratory to test for meningococcal disease and figure out which antibiotic will work best for treatment.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. With a spinal tap, there is very little risk. You may feel a little pinch or pressure when the needle is inserted. After the test, you may feel some pain or tenderness in your back or have some bleeding where the needle was inserted. You may also get a headache.
Understanding results
If a result or symptoms suggest an emergency, get emergency medical help right away.
The results will show whether you have meningococcal disease.
- Positive: A positive result means that meningococcal bacteria ( Neisseria meningitidis) were found in your blood or CSF sample. You most likely have meningococcal disease. Limitation: If not treated early and with the right type of treatment, meningococcal infection can get worse quickly and cause death. Next step: If your provider thinks you have meningococcal disease, you will get treatment with antibiotics.
- Negative: A negative result means that no meningococcal bacteria were found in your blood or CSF sample. Most likely, your symptoms are not caused by meningococcal disease. Limitation: Diagnosing meningococcal disease can be difficult because the signs and symptoms are often similar to other illnesses. Next step: If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.
- Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease are often similar to other illnesses, which can make diagnosis challenging.
- If not treated early and with the right type of treatment, meningococcal infection can get worse quickly and cause death.
What to do next
If your provider thinks you have meningococcal disease, you will get treatment with antibiotics. Ideally treatment will begin less than 24 hours after your diagnosis is confirmed.
- What do my results mean for my health?
- Do I need any follow-up tests?
- How long will my treatment last?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Meningococcal Disease Tests