NHS Trials Rapid Blood Test in Liverpool, London, Newcastle to Improve Pediatric Infection Diagnosis

The NHS is trialling a new rapid blood test that can diagnose life-threatening conditions such as sepsis and meningitis in children by distinguishing bacterial from viral infections within 15 minutes. This test, currently being trialled in emergency departments at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, St Mary’s Hospital in London, and Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, aims to enable quicker treatment decisions, particularly regarding the administration of antibiotics. By providing faster diagnosis compared to traditional blood tests that take several hours, the test has already helped doctors treat children with meningococcal meningitis and sepsis more promptly. Led by Professor Enitan Carrol of the University of Liverpool, the study seeks to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and improve patient outcomes, potentially saving many young lives. Experts including Dr Ron Daniels of the UK Sepsis Trust emphasize the test's potential to improve care, noting that suboptimal infection-related care contributed to about 40% of child deaths in recent national reports. The trial is also expected to enhance hospital efficiency and is scheduled to continue until March.