Rapid blood test detects infant infection type in 15 minutes
Protein-based test reduces unnecessary antibiotic use in febrile infants
1Critical diagnostic gap
Current infection tests take hours, forcing doctors to prescribe antibiotics preemptively to febrile infants despite only 15% having serious bacterial infections. This contributes to antibiotic resistance. The new test analyzes neutrophil CD64 and monocyte CD169 protein levels, biomarkers that differentiate bacterial from viral infections. Previous adult studies showed 100% accuracy in identifying infection types.
2Protein biomarkers validated
CD64 increases during bacterial infections on neutrophils, while CD169 rises during viral infections on monocytes. The test correctly identified all 15 bacterial cases, 44 viral cases, and 26 non-infected cases in the 85-infant study. This builds on 2021 research proving these markers' reliability in adults. The technology was developed over a decade by Beckman Coulter researchers.
3Clinical impact potential
The 15-20 minute lab result timeframe could transform emergency pediatric care. During a dengue outbreak in Martinique, the test revealed bacterial leptospirosis cases mistaken for viral infections. Researchers are developing a benchtop version for hospital use. A 300-500 infant multicenter trial is planned to validate clinical implementation for this high-risk population.
4Immune system considerations
Validating the test for infants required special consideration due to their developing immune systems. Some researchers initially doubted whether CD64/CD169 markers would be reliable in neonates. The successful detection in the 85-infant study confirms these proteins are measurable biomarkers even in immature immune responses.
5Technical implementation
The test requires analyzing protein levels in two white blood cell types: neutrophils for CD64 (bacterial indicator) and monocytes for CD169 (viral indicator). Current lab processing takes 15-20 minutes, with efforts underway to develop point-of-care hospital equipment. The finger-prick blood sample method has been approved for research use while awaiting clinical validation.
6Public health implications
Unnecessary antibiotic use in pediatrics contributes significantly to antimicrobial resistance. This test could reduce inappropriate prescriptions while ensuring bacterial infections receive prompt treatment. The technology represents a major advance in precision medicine for neonatal care, where rapid diagnosis is critical but challenging.
7Research validation path
After demonstrating efficacy in adults (2021) and children, the infant study marks the third validation phase. Researchers presented results at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. Next steps include multicenter trials and regulatory approval for clinical use. Parallel development of rapid analysis equipment aims to make the test practical for emergency settings.
8Future diagnostic standard
This protein-based approach could become the gold standard for pediatric infection diagnosis. Its rapid turnaround and high accuracy address critical gaps in neonatal care. As antibiotic resistance grows globally, such precision diagnostics will become increasingly vital in both developed and developing healthcare systems.
Original article: New Scientist — Rapid blood test detects infant infection type in 15 minutes