Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Assay as a Rapid Tool in Screening for Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Isolates of Electrophoretic Type 24

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NMSC) isolates of electrophoretic type 24 (ET-24), as identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, are the main cause of serogroup C meningococcal disease outbreaks and sporadic meningococcal disease in the United States. We evaluated a random amplified polymorphic DNA assay as a rapid tool to screen for isolates of ET-24 by testing 199 NMSC isolates of 51 different ETs. A sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 87% was achieved in identification of ET-24 isolates when the patterns obtained by two primers, P1 and P5, were analyzed together.