The NHS has launched a groundbreaking trial of a 15-minute blood test that could revolutionize the diagnosis of life-threatening infections in children, including sepsis and meningitis. The rapid diagnostic tool, known as the MeMed BV test, can quickly distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, enabling doctors to make faster treatment decisions and potentially save lives.
Trial Implementation Across Major Children's Hospitals
NHS England has funded the trial across three emergency departments: Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, St Mary's Hospital in London, and Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle. The study, which will run until March, represents a significant advancement in pediatric emergency care.
Dr. Charlotte Durand, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey, emphasized the test's potential impact, stating it "could have a massive impact on the emergency care of paediatric patients." Early results from the trial have already demonstrated clinical benefits, with doctors reporting cases where children with meningococcal meningitis were treated much more quickly and sepsis patients started antibiotics immediately.
Addressing Critical Clinical Needs
Professor Enitan Carrol from the University of Liverpool, who is leading the project, explained the clinical challenge the test addresses: "Many of the children who come to hospital have a fever and this test can quickly distinguish between a minor viral illness like a cold, or a more serious infection. Our study is investigating whether this definitive test for a bacterial or viral infection will be useful in helping doctors make faster decisions and reducing the use of unnecessary antibiotics – all of which is better for patients and the NHS."
The rapid test offers a significant improvement over traditional diagnostic methods, which can take several hours and require laboratory analysis. Instead, the MeMed BV test can rapidly indicate whether a patient has a bacterial infection that could benefit from immediate antibiotics.
Life-Saving Potential and Clinical Impact
Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and chief medical officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, highlighted the test's life-saving potential, citing concerning statistics about pediatric infection mortality. "A recent national publication suggested that, among the deaths of approximately 500 children each year where infection was present, care was suboptimal in 40% of cases," he said. "Making the right decision around early antimicrobial prescribing in children who need antibiotics the most has potential to save dozens of young lives every year."
Dr. Daniels noted that severe infections and sepsis represent "one of the greatest acute illness burdens facing our NHS," while antibiotic resistance, largely caused by overprescribing, affects thousands of patients. The new test aims to address both challenges by enabling more precise antibiotic prescribing decisions.
Broader Implications for Healthcare
The technology shows promise beyond pediatric applications. Dr. Daniels noted that "previous studies have shown its performance to be even better in adults, meaning there is potential opportunity across all ages." However, he emphasized the need for proper integration into clinical systems and support for clinicians making prescribing decisions based on test results.
Professor Simon Kenny, national clinical director for children and young people at NHS England, praised the innovation's timing: "Innovations like the 15-minute blood test speed up diagnosis and allow focused treatment, as well as freeing up resources to treat more patients, so it's great we're able to trial the test this winter when the NHS is at its busiest."
Clinical Perspective from Frontline Practitioners
Dr. Emma Lim, consultant paediatrician at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle, provided insight into the daily clinical challenges the test could address: "Every year, thousands of worried parents bring their children with fever to hospital. Often, it turns out to be nothing serious — but it's hard to know in the moment. A quick and reliable test like this can help doctors make faster decisions, and reduce the need for unnecessary antibiotics, which is better for patients, parents and the NHS."
The trial represents a critical step toward implementing rapid diagnostic technologies that could transform emergency pediatric care, offering the potential to save lives while promoting more judicious use of antibiotics in clinical practice.
