Abstract: Objective T o develop a method for rapid diagnosis and genoty ping for Neisser ia meningitidis(N.m),and as sess the genotyping efficiency and group distribution in epidemic season 2006,Zhejiang.Methods The assay of multiplex PCR was established for N.m detecting and genot yping simultaneously.Both sensitivity and specificity of multiplex PCR were evaluated by colony for ming unit(CFU)counting and gene sequencing,respectively.Results A)The sensitivity of multiplex PCR was 83 CFU/reaction;B)The genoty ping efficiency(100%,89/89)by using the multiplex PCR was significantly hig her than the serotyping(82.02%,73/89)by serum agglutination reaction.The genotyping efficiency was 100%(35/35) whereas the ser otyping was 65.71%(23/35)in the isolations from health carriers;C)The sequencing results supported the genotyping ones among the samples in which the genotyping r esults conflicted to serotyping;D)The group distribution was of A(60.69%,54/89),B(24.69%,22/89)and C(14.62%,13/89).No other N.m group was found in this study.Conclusion Both sensit ivity and specificity by employing the multiplex PCR were higher than those by serum agglutination reaction in the N.m identification and group-typing.The genotyping was superior to ser otyping for grouping efficacy.