Point-Counterpoint: Meningitis/encephalitis syndromic testing in the Clinical Laboratory

ABSTRACT

“I'm not telling you it's going to be easy. I'm telling you it's going to be worth it”– Art Williams

For the most part, syndromic testing by multiplex molecular panels has been a welcome addition to the diagnostic laboratory. The first three panels available addressed syndromes associated with upper respiratory tract infections, bloodstream infections and gastroenteritis, with adoption of the first two panels being the most widespread. Multiple studies have been published on the performance characteristics of these syndromic panels as well as the impact on turn-around-time (TAT), increased pathogen detection, and antimicrobial use. Drs. Schreckenberger and McAdam previously published an excellent point-counterpoint article on the use of respiratory and gastrointestinal multiplex PCR panels as first line testing (1). The focus of the debate was when to use the panels, rather than if the panels should be used at all.