A RAPID blood test that can fast-track diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or meningitis in children is being trialled in the NHS.
It can determine in just 15 minutes whether a patient’s infection is bacterial or viral, letting doctors know if they need antibiotics or not.
NHS England has funded a test run of the technology in three hospital emergency departments, in Liverpool, London, and Newcastle.
Enitan Carrol, professor of paediatric infection at the University of Liverpool, is leading the study.
He said the test could quickly distinguish between a minor viral illness such as a cold, or a more serious infection.
He said: “Many of the children who come to hospital have a fever and this test can quickly distinguish between a minor viral illness like a cold, or a more serious infection.
“Our study is investigating whether this definitive test for a bacterial or viral infection will be useful in helping doctors make faster decisions and reducing the use of unnecessary antibiotics – all of which is better for patients and the NHS.”
Dr Ron Daniels, founder of the UK Sepsis Trust, said the innovation could be life-saving.
He pointed to findings suggesting care was not good enough in about 40 per cent of cases when a child died and an infection was present.
He said: “A recent national publication suggested that, among the deaths of approximately 500 children each year where infection was present, care was suboptimal in 40% of cases.
“Making the right decision around early antimicrobial prescribing in children who need antibiotics the most has potential to save dozens of young lives every year.”
He added: “Although the study is in children, previous studies have shown its performance to be even better in adults.”
The trial, also intended to improve hospital efficiency, is set to run until March.
