FDA Clears Rapid Test for Meningitis Medical Video by Public Health

FDA Clears Rapid Test for Meningitis

Public Health

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Description

FDA recently cleared for marketing a rapid test to help detect the presence of viral meningitis. The test is called Xpert EV, and was developed by the company Cepheid. When used in combination with other laboratory tests, Xpert EV can help distinguish between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis, which is less common, but more severe. Typically, diagnostic tests for meningitis can take up to a week to get results, but results from the Xpert EV test are available in two and one-half hours. Since bacterial meningitis can be deadly within as little as two days, patients who have viral meningitis are frequently treated with antibiotics as a safeguard against the more dangerous bacterial disease. This test should help physicians manage patients appropriately and prevent unnecessary treatment with antibiotics. The accuracy of the Xpert EV test was confirmed in a study at six clinical sites. About 250 patient samples were tested. Ninety-six percent of patients who tested positive did have viral meningitis and 97 percent of patients who tested negative did not have viral meningitis.