Rapid diagnostic techniques for bacterial meningitis.

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the most prevalent current methods for rapid diagnosis of meningitis. In addition, some of those techniques which, while not yet practicable for most laboratories but are on the clinical horizon, have been surveyed. Two principles which emerge from this review are that many of the older techniques, such as Gram stain, retain their clinical utility by virtue of their practicality, cost-benefit ratio, and simplicity; and many of the more sophisticated techniques which are now emerging from the research arena (such as FPEC-GLC), facilitate rapid diagnosis where it has not previously existed. Also, when identification of the infectious agent depends on antigen detection, prior treatment will not compromise the results. Therefore, the combination of old and new laboratory methods for diagnosing meningitis provides a much wider, more effective and efficient set of diagnostic tools than was previously available.