National Reference Center (NRC) for Neisseria meningitidis

Important communication for diagnosis

The NRC Neisseria meningitidis, part of Sciensano (J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050), has developed a method that enables the detection of the DNA of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Listeria monocytogenes. If the clinical diagnosis suggests bacterial meningitidis, but no strain can be isolated, the patient’s lumbar fluid and/or blood may be sent to the NRC Neisseria meningitidis. In case of a positive result for one of the pathogens, the NRC Neisseria meningitidis will forward the sample to the relevant NRC for further typing of the strains (accompanied by the completed application form “detection of bacterial meningitis”, see menu on the left).

Helpful links:

At the bottom of this page, you can find the NRC reports.

You can consult the accompanying epidemiological surveillance reports at: Health topic Meningitis.