Diagnosis of multiple pathogens in a single test: Saving time, saving life
Clinical microbiology is transforming with the advent of newer technologies. Molecular technologies are opening up new avenues. One of such technologies that came recently in the field of laboratory diagnosis isFilmarray technology. It’s a nested multiplex PCR.
It’s advantages are diagnosis of multiple pathogens involving diversity of organisms including Bacteria, Viruses, Fungus and Parasites.
When a patient presents at a hospital, Clinician in a hospital expects from the Microbiological laboratory to diagnose the presence of infection, and report of the same as early as possible. Routine diagnosis techniques are slow and takes hours to days to be reported. But with the arrival of Filmarray technologies, everything will change. The diagnosis of multiple organisms can be done in 60 minutes. It’s a molecular study in a closed setup, preventing contamination and increasing the specificity of the test.
So, with the introduction of panels like 1)Respiratory and Pneumonia panel, 2)BCID panel for sepsis, 3)Meningitis and Encephalitis panel, 4) Gastrointestinal panels, has revolutionized the field of clinical microbiology and also helped in speedy detection of infectious pathogens. This has prevented the guesswork, and lead to more accurate diagnosis of the same. Since the test has high sensitivity and specificity, it helped in correct diagnosis of infections present and resistance genes to antibiotics if any, thus it is also used for antibiotic stewardship in the hospital.
Since it detects multiple pathogens in one single panel test, it also prevent the days lost in multiple diagnosis forum like conventional culture, serology testings, and even PCR detection of single microorganism. There are many bacteria and viruses which can't be detected by any of these methods because of cost constraints, but are included in these panel, thus making it more easier to detect.
Finally, Molecular Diagnostic technologies are the future, as they are time saving and accurate. Though it's in nascent stage in Indian laboratory diagnosis scenario, but more and more hospitals are taking up these technologies to help detect infections.
It's costlier than conventional diagnosis techniques but when one compare it with the total money spent in medical diagnosis and treatment, length of hospital stay and resulting increase in morbidity and mortality of patients, it's the best option available today.
It’s advantages are diagnosis of multiple pathogens involving diversity of organisms including Bacteria, Viruses, Fungus and Parasites.
When a patient presents at a hospital, Clinician in a hospital expects from the Microbiological laboratory to diagnose the presence of infection, and report of the same as early as possible. Routine diagnosis techniques are slow and takes hours to days to be reported. But with the arrival of Filmarray technologies, everything will change. The diagnosis of multiple organisms can be done in 60 minutes. It’s a molecular study in a closed setup, preventing contamination and increasing the specificity of the test.
So, with the introduction of panels like 1)Respiratory and Pneumonia panel, 2)BCID panel for sepsis, 3)Meningitis and Encephalitis panel, 4) Gastrointestinal panels, has revolutionized the field of clinical microbiology and also helped in speedy detection of infectious pathogens. This has prevented the guesswork, and lead to more accurate diagnosis of the same. Since the test has high sensitivity and specificity, it helped in correct diagnosis of infections present and resistance genes to antibiotics if any, thus it is also used for antibiotic stewardship in the hospital.
Since it detects multiple pathogens in one single panel test, it also prevent the days lost in multiple diagnosis forum like conventional culture, serology testings, and even PCR detection of single microorganism. There are many bacteria and viruses which can't be detected by any of these methods because of cost constraints, but are included in these panel, thus making it more easier to detect.
Finally, Molecular Diagnostic technologies are the future, as they are time saving and accurate. Though it's in nascent stage in Indian laboratory diagnosis scenario, but more and more hospitals are taking up these technologies to help detect infections.
It's costlier than conventional diagnosis techniques but when one compare it with the total money spent in medical diagnosis and treatment, length of hospital stay and resulting increase in morbidity and mortality of patients, it's the best option available today.
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