For Laboratorians

Key Resource

Best Practices for Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Diagnosing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis Disease and Public Health Importance of Identifying Serotype/Serogroup

CDC’s Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory works primarily on two pathogens: Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae.

CDC’s Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory supports:

Active, population-based surveillance for Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae in an overall population base of more than 40 million people
Enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance in 44 states and 3 large jurisdictions
State and local health departments that request assistance
Outbreak investigations
Specialized research projects related to meningitidis and H. influenzae

The lab is a well-recognized reference center for identification and characterization of N. meningitidis and H. influenzae.

Learn more about the CDC Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory.

Manual on Laboratory Methods for the Diagnosis of Meningitis
Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis

Page last reviewed: February 13, 2018

Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Bacterial Diseases