Rapid blood test for children ‘could spot sepsis and save lives’

A rapid blood test to help diagnose life-threatening conditions in children – such as sepsis or meningitis – is being trialled in the NHS.

The 15-minute blood test can fast-track diagnosis by telling medics whether patients are suffering from a bacterial or viral infection.

Instead of relying on blood test results which can take several hours and need analysis in the lab, the test can rapidly indicate whether a patient has a bacterial infection which could benefit from immediate antibiotics.

Experts believe the change could save lives and lead to more appropriate treatment for those who do not need antibiotics.

Doctors taking part in the trial say they have already seen the benefits.

In one case, a child with meningococcal meningitis was treated much more quickly and another with sepsis started antibiotics straight away.

NHS England has funded a trial of the technology in three emergency departments at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, St Mary’s Hospital in London and Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.

Enitan Carrol, professor of paediatric infection at the University of Liverpool, who is leading the project, said: “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.”

Dr Charlotte Durand, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey, said the test “could have a massive impact on the emergency care of paediatric patients”.

Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief medical officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, told the PA news agency the test could save lives.

He said: “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.

“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.”

He said severe infections and sepsis are “one of the greatest acute illness burdens facing our NHS”, while resistance to antibiotics, which is largely caused by overprescribing, also affects thousands of patients.

He added: “Using antibiotics more wisely – meaning both withholding them in people who won’t benefit and giving them urgently to people who need the most – has never been more important.

“This new (NHS) research, examining the real-world performance of one of a wide range of potentially important new tests, aims to distinguish between people with bacterial infection who may well require and benefit from antibiotics and people with viral infection, who will not benefit.

“Although the study is in children, previous studies have shown its performance to be even better in adults, meaning there is potential opportunity across all ages.

“However, a challenge the NHS has is understanding how to properly integrate these tests into clinical systems – and how to support clinicians making prescribing decisions based upon the results.

“There is an urgent need to change the way we bring novel and rapid diagnostics such as this into the NHS.”

Professor Simon Kenny, national clinical director for children and young people at NHS England, said: “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.”

Dr Emma Lim, consultant paediatrician at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, said: “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 study looking at the MeMed BV test will run until March.

Published: 27/10/2025 by Radio NewsHub