Methodology - Laboratory Characterization

Pathogens	Tests
Neisseria meningitidis	Identification and serogrouping by conventional microbiological methods. Confirmation of serogroup and species identification using real-time PCR Multilocus sequence typing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, and serosubtyping of isolates as part of special projects Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates
Haemophilus influenzae	Identification and serotyping (a-f) by conventional microbiological methods Confirmation of serotype and species using real-time PCR
group A Streptococcus	T and emm typing of all isolates Sof sequence typing of a subset of isolates Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of a subset of isolates
group B Streptococcus	Serotyping of isolates from select surveillance areas Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates from select surveillance areas
Streptococcus pneumoniae	Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of all isolates Serotyping of all isolates Progressing toward clonal typing of all isolates using MLST Characterization of resistance mechanisms of selected strains based on phenotypic resistance patterns