Syndromic Multiplex Panels Reshape Clinical Microbiology Practice
This review examines FDA-approved multiplex molecular panels with more than five targets for diagnosing bloodstream, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and CNS infections. These panels have fundamentally changed clinical microbiology by dramatically reducing turnaround time and broadening pathogen detection in a single test. The authors discuss key challenges including cost, optimal ordering strategies, and interpretation of results, which are critical for clinical laboratory implementation.
The original study
Syndromic Panel-Based Testing in Clinical Microbiology.
- Authors
- Ramanan P, Bryson AL, Binnicker MJ, Pritt BS, Patel R
- Journal
- Clinical microbiology reviews
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 29142077
Original abstract
The recent development of commercial panel-based molecular diagnostics for the rapid detection of pathogens in positive blood culture bottles, respiratory specimens, stool, and cerebrospinal fluid has resulted in a paradigm shift in clinical microbiology and clinical practice. This review focuses on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved/cleared multiplex molecular panels with more than five targets designed to assist in the diagnosis of bloodstream, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal, or central nervous system infections. While these panel-based assays have the clear advantages of a rapid turnaround time and the detection of a large number of microorganisms and promise to improve health care, they present certain challenges, including cost and the definition of ideal test utilization strategies (i.e., optimal ordering) and test interpretation.