Breakthrough genomic test identifies virtually any infection in one go

[Wishful]

https://newatlas.com/medical-tech/mngs-genomic-test-identifies-infection/

"Researchers at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a single genomic test that can quickly detect virtually any kind of pathogen in a patient. This allows for much quicker diagnoses, enables targeted treatment to begin sooner, and could lower healthcare costs.

The test is based on a genomic sequencing technique called Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS). Rather than having a doctor observe your symptoms, guess what might be causing it, and test for that, mNGS analyzes a sample for a wide range of pathogens all at once and checks its findings against a database. It then identifies the viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites responsible for the patient's illness."

 

[junkcrap50]

Pretty cool. But unfortunately not new tech or news. They just published a paper in Nature (hence the PR article) where they tested "over the course of 7 years...4,828 patients' samples". 7 years is how long since this earlier PR release about the tech.

Also it seems now that testing plasma samples is available. (Previously only CFS samples could be/were tested).

https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/new-test-can-detect-among-a-vast-range-of-infections.60671/
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2017/07/407736/next-gen-precision-diagnostics-now-available-ucsf

With so many more samples tested and some automation the article mentions, hopefully the cost of the test has and will decline.

 

[kushami]

I happened to be reading an article about this approach from when it was for cerebro-spinal fluid only. The scientist in the interview said that it was much easier to work with, because it’s usually free from bacteria etc. so if someone is sick and anything non-human is in the cerebro-spinal fluid then it is very likely to be the culprit.

Radio recording and transcript:
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/joe-derisi-medical-mysteries/

Wait a minute … the new article says they have gotten it to work for respiratory viruses, but are still working on it for plasma. The headline is a teensy bit misleading. It can identify almost any infection in the brain or lungs – very impressive, but not the same as “almost any infection”.

 

[junkcrap50]

I happened to be reading an article about this approach from when it was for cerebro-spinal fluid only. The scientist in the interview said that it was much easier to work with, because it’s usually free from bacteria etc. so if someone is sick and anything non-human is in the cerebro-spinal fluid then it is very likely to be the culprit.

Radio recording and transcript:
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/joe-derisi-medical-mysteries/

Wait a minute … the new article says they have gotten it to work for respiratory viruses, but are still working on it for plasma. The headline is a teensy bit misleading. It can identify almost any infection in the brain or lungs – very impressive, but not the same as “almost any infection”.

Their main website and also their physician's page for instructions says they do plasma. But no mention of respiratory fluids.
https://nextgendiagnostics.ucsf.edu/
https://nextgendiagnostics.ucsf.edu/providers/

Also, cost/price is $3,000, mentioned in their Nature paper.