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Meningococcal Disease Tests
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Lab Tests

Meningococcal Disease Tests

Meningococcal disease tests identify the presence of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria in your blood or cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose serious infections like meningitis.

Overview

Meningococcal disease is the name for any infection caused by meningococcal bacteria (called Neisseria meningitidis). These bacteria can spread through contact with respiratory or throat secretions, such as through kissing or living in close quarters. Because symptoms often mimic other illnesses, testing is critical for early diagnosis and treatment.

Types of Tests

If your health care provider suspects meningococcal disease, they may order one or more of the following:

  • Meningococcal culture test: A sample of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is placed in a dish with a special substance to allow the bacteria to grow.
  • Meningococcal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test: This test checks for small amounts of the genetic material of the bacteria in your blood or CSF.
  • Meningococcal antigen test: This test looks for specific proteins (antigens) from the bacteria that trigger an immune response.

Symptoms

The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningococcal meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and meningococcal bloodstream infections (which can cause damage to blood vessels and organs).

Symptoms in Adults

  • Meningitis: Fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and confusion.
  • Bloodstream infection: Cold hands and feet, diarrhea or nausea, fatigue, fever and chills, rapid breathing, severe aches or pain in muscles/joints/chest/abdomen, and a dark, purple rash in later stages.

Symptoms in Babies

  • Appearing slow or inactive
  • Irritability
  • Feeding poorly
  • Soft spot on the skull
  • Abnormal reflexes
  • Vomiting

Diagnosis & Procedure

Testing involves collecting samples of blood or CSF. A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is used to collect CSF. During this procedure, a provider numbs the back and inserts a thin needle between vertebrae to withdraw fluid. You must remain still during the process, which takes about five minutes.

Results

  • Positive:Neisseria meningitidis bacteria were found; you most likely have meningococcal disease.
  • Negative: No bacteria were found; your symptoms are likely caused by something else.

If positive, treatment with antibiotics should ideally begin within 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

PCR tests are significantly faster, often providing results within 24 hours, which is critical for starting the right antibiotics. Culture tests take longer, typically 48 to 72 hours, because the bacteria must be grown in a lab environment. However, cultures are still important because they allow doctors to determine which specific antibiotics the bacteria are susceptible to, ensuring the most effective treatment.
negative initial test does not rule out meningococcal disease, especially if antibiotics were started before the sample was collected, as this can kill the bacteria and make them undetectable. If symptoms persist or worsen, your provider may repeat the test, perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to check the cerebrospinal fluid, or order additional imaging to look for other causes of your symptoms.
For a blood draw, no special preparation is usually required, though you should inform your provider if you are taking blood thinners. For a lumbar puncture, you may be asked to fast for a few hours beforehand, and you will likely need to lie on your side or sit hunched over a table. You should wear loose-fitting clothing to make the procedure easier and arrange for someone to drive you home afterward, as you may feel drowsy or have a headache following the procedure.
Standard diagnostic tests for meningococcal disease are designed to detect active infection in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid, not asymptomatic carriage. While some bacteria can live harmlessly in the throat of healthy people, routine screening for carriage is not recommended for the general public. Testing is only performed when there are signs of active disease or in specific outbreak investigations.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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