Bacterial Meningitis Panel 5 Antigen, CSF Test Cost & Procedure

The 14 most prevalent microorganisms that cause encephalitis or meningitis are quickly identified using this test by their nucleic acid.

The FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis board is a multiplex polymerase chain reaction examination that can qualitatively determine the DNA or RNA of 14 pathogens in spinal fluid in approximately an hour.

This examination is utilized to determine whether a person has contracted a disease brought on by Escherichia coli K1, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus, herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, human herpesvirus 6, human parechovirus, varicella zoster

Clinical Significance

Panel for meningitis and encephalitis, PCR, and CSF - The Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel is an FDA-approved qualitative multiplex nucleic acid-based examination that catches determines bacterial, viral, and yeast. The results of the ME panel are intended to be used in conjunction with other clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data such as standard of care, culture for organism recovery, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to aid in the diagnosis of specific meningitis and/or encephalitis agents. The outcomes are not meant to serve as the only foundation for decisions about patient care, therapy, or diagnosis.

The followership organisms are identified:

Escherichia coli K1, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitides (encapsulated), Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the bacteria.

It's important to diagnose quickly. In 24 to 48 hours, bacterial meningitis can be lethal to healthy persons. 2 The proper course of action depends on the infection being quickly identified as bacterial, viral, or yeast.

This may result in prolonged hospital stays and the taking of unneeded antibiotics, both of which raise the overall cost of care.

IDSA Requirements A, B

Meningitis

Rapid diagnostic tests should be taken into consideration to identify the bacterial cause of meningitis because CSF cultures may take up to 48 hours to identify an organism and are positive in 70 to 85% of patients with bacterial meningitis who have not previously received antimicrobial therapy.

PCR might help rule out bacterial meningitis and may have an impact on whether antimicrobial therapy is started or stopped.

Quick PCR detection of enterovirus may result in a reduced need for antibiotic treatment and shorter hospital stays.