By Web Desk 
A groundbreaking genomic test, developed at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has set new standards in medical diagnostics by detecting almost any infection from a single sample. This test leverages Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) technology to identify bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in just one procedure, drastically reducing diagnosis time and improving patient care.
The process begins with the extraction of DNA and RNA from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or respiratory samples, which are then analyzed through computational algorithms and compared against a vast pathogen database of over 68,000 entries. This innovative approach replaces the need for multiple individual tests, achieving 86% accuracy for diagnosing neurological infections like meningitis and encephalitis. These conditions are often hard to diagnose and may worsen without timely treatment.
In addition to aiding routine diagnostics, this test plays a pivotal role in identifying pandemic-causing pathogens. Its rapid processing timeāreduced to as little as 12-24 hours in respiratory casesāpositions it as an effective tool for early pandemic detection. This capability was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, where rapid identification of respiratory viruses was critical.
The mNGS technology is seen as a major advancement for hospitals, especially in critical care scenarios. Its effectiveness in detecting rare pathogens and guiding appropriate treatments promises to lower healthcare costs and reduce hospital stays.
This breakthrough has also spurred the development of dedicated companies like Delve Bio, which provide mNGS kits to expand access to this revolutionary diagnostic tool