Category
Laboratory Point of Care
Typical Use
Detect bloodstream pathogens and resistance markers quickly to guide antimicrobial therapy.
Description
A multiplex PCR based or microarray platform that identifies a broad panel of bacteria, fungi, and key resistance genes directly from positive blood culture bottles within hours, enabling earlier targeted antimicrobial therapy and antimicrobial stewardship interventions compared with conventional culture based identification. Rapid sepsis panels improve time to appropriate therapy and may reduce broad spectrum antibiotic exposure, but results must be interpreted alongside culture, susceptibility testing, and clinical context to guide definitive treatment. Implementation requires laboratory validation, clinician education on test limitations, and integration with antimicrobial stewardship programs to translate rapid diagnostics into improved outcomes. Cost, assay breadth, and local epidemiology influence panel selection and clinical impact.