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| Image: Wellcome Images |
From the NICE website:
“In final diagnostics guidance published today NICE has recommended that further research is carried out on 3 promising new blood tests for speeding up the identification of bloodstream bacteria and fungi in people with suspected bloodstream infections.
The LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE (Roche Diagnostics), SepsiTest (Molzym Molecular Diagnostics) and IRIDICA BAC BSI assay (Abbott Laboratories) analyse whole blood samples to identify bacterial and fungal DNA. The tests aim to identify the causes of infection much quicker than traditional microbiology techniques which require blood samples to be incubated and cultured before pathogens can be identified.
The independent Diagnostics Advisory Committee concluded that, although the tests show promise, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend their routine adoption in the NHS. They felt the tests may offer clinical benefit by providing results more quickly but there was currently too much uncertainty in their accuracy for clinicians to be able to use them as the basis for clinical decision-making in people with suspected bloodstream infections, who can be acutely unwell.
The Committee therefore decided that further research should be encouraged to provide robust evidence, particularly around demonstrating the value of using the test results in clinical decision-making.”