Meningococcal Disease Tests

Urgent safety information

Call your provider right away if you think you or your child might have meningococcal disease. Symptoms include sudden high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and rash. If not treated early, meningococcal infection can get worse quickly and cause death.

Why this test may be ordered

• To find out whether you have meningococcal disease.
• Collect this as a single string with a blank line separator, not as a JSON array.

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 do not stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to.

Blood test: A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): To get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), you will lie on your side or sit on an exam table. Your provider will clean your back and inject an anesthetic into your skin. When the area is numb, your provider will insert a thin, hollow needle between two vertebrae in your lower spine and withdraw a small amount of fluid. This takes about five minutes. You may need to lie on your back for an hour or two afterward.

Blood test: There is very little risk. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. 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 that may last for several hours or up to a week or more.

Understanding results

The results will show whether you have meningococcal disease.

• Positive: Meningococcal bacteria were found in your blood or CSF sample. Limitation: A positive result indicates you most likely have meningococcal disease. Next step: You will get treatment with antibiotics. Ideally treatment will begin less than 24 hours after your diagnosis is confirmed.
• Negative: No meningococcal bacteria were found in your blood or CSF sample. Most likely, your symptoms are not caused by meningococcal disease. Limitation: A negative result does not completely rule out meningococcal disease if your provider still suspects it. 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 test is positive: You most likely have meningococcal disease. You will get treatment with antibiotics. Ideally treatment will begin less than 24 hours after your diagnosis is confirmed. If your test is negative: Most likely, your symptoms are not caused by meningococcal disease. If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.

• A positive result means that meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) were found in your blood or CSF sample. You most likely have meningococcal disease.
• 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.
• Collect this as a single string with a blank line separator, not as a JSON array.

Evidence source

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Meningococcal Disease Tests