Guidance

Meningococcal reference unit (MRU): user manual

List of available tests for meningococcal disease, what specimens to send and turnaround times.

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
1 April 2012
Last updated
248 DecemberJuly 20252026 — See all updates

Documents

Meningococcal reference unit: user manual

Ref: GOV-17580

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Details

The Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU) provides:

  • clinical advice for case and outbreak investigation and management
  • meningococcal isolate confirmation and characterisation
  • meningococcal DNA detection and genogroup detection by real-time PCR
  • molecular characterisation from meningococcal isolates and non-culture material (enhanced surveillance)
  • technical laboratory advice and support for large scale investigations and carriage studies
  • meningococcal vaccine evaluation
  • determination of response to meningococcal vaccination
  • collection of over 50,000 phenotypically characterised meningococcal isolates
  • computerised database of laboratory-confirmed cases
  • support for collaborative scientific projects and audits

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2012
Last updated 248 DecemberJuly 20252026 href="#full-history">+— show Show all updates

  1. Added guidance on throat swabs and added eye swabs to specimen type.

  2. Updated manual.

  3. Updated user manual.

  4. Updated Meningococcal reference unit: user manual.

  5. Added updated user manual.

  6. Updated Meningococcal reference unit: user manual.

  7. Updated the 'Meningococcal reference unit user manual'.

  8. Updated manual October 2015.

  9. First published.

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