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Photo by Juan D. Alfonso
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said there is not enough evidence to recommend the routine use of 3 new tests to help identify the cause of sepsis.
The agency issued a final diagnostics guidance recommending further research on the tests—the LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE (Roche Diagnostics), SepsiTest (Molzym Molecular Diagnostics), and IRIDICA BAC BSI assay (Abbott Laboratories).
All 3 tests analyze 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.
“Rapid molecular tests that can identify the cause of an infection in hours rather than the days typically needed for traditional microbiology tests could ensure the most appropriate antibiotics are used much earlier,” said Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director.
“This, in turn, could improve outcomes for patients with suspected bloodstream infections, as well as help to reduce the spread of resistant microbes. The independent diagnostics advisory committee [advising NICE on the tests] concluded that, although the tests show promise, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend their routine adoption in the NHS [National Health Service].”
“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.”
The diagnostics guidance on the tests is available on the NICE website. 
Photo by Juan D. Alfonso
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said there is not enough evidence to recommend the routine use of 3 new tests to help identify the cause of sepsis.
The agency issued a final diagnostics guidance recommending further research on the tests—the LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE (Roche Diagnostics), SepsiTest (Molzym Molecular Diagnostics), and IRIDICA BAC BSI assay (Abbott Laboratories).
All 3 tests analyze 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.
“Rapid molecular tests that can identify the cause of an infection in hours rather than the days typically needed for traditional microbiology tests could ensure the most appropriate antibiotics are used much earlier,” said Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director.
“This, in turn, could improve outcomes for patients with suspected bloodstream infections, as well as help to reduce the spread of resistant microbes. The independent diagnostics advisory committee [advising NICE on the tests] concluded that, although the tests show promise, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend their routine adoption in the NHS [National Health Service].”
“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.”
The diagnostics guidance on the tests is available on the NICE website.
Photo by Juan D. Alfonso
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said there is not enough evidence to recommend the routine use of 3 new tests to help identify the cause of sepsis.
The agency issued a final diagnostics guidance recommending further research on the tests—the LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE (Roche Diagnostics), SepsiTest (Molzym Molecular Diagnostics), and IRIDICA BAC BSI assay (Abbott Laboratories).
All 3 tests analyze 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.
“Rapid molecular tests that can identify the cause of an infection in hours rather than the days typically needed for traditional microbiology tests could ensure the most appropriate antibiotics are used much earlier,” said Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director.
“This, in turn, could improve outcomes for patients with suspected bloodstream infections, as well as help to reduce the spread of resistant microbes. The independent diagnostics advisory committee [advising NICE on the tests] concluded that, although the tests show promise, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend their routine adoption in the NHS [National Health Service].”
“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.”
The diagnostics guidance on the tests is available on the NICE website.