An innovative 15-minute blood test developed by BIVDA member MeMed is being trialled by the NHS this winter to help doctors rapidly identify potentially life-threatening infections in children.
The cutting-edge MeMed BV test can distinguish between bacterial and viral infections far faster than traditional laboratory methods. This speed could prove crucial in detecting serious conditions such as sepsis or meningitis, where every minute counts.
NHS England is funding the trial across three leading hospitals – Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, St Mary’s Hospital in London, and Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle – to assess whether rapid tests like this can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
Currently, doctors must wait several hours for lab results to confirm whether an infection is bacterial or viral, often leading to precautionary antibiotic use or delays in critical treatment. MeMed’s 15-minute test provides immediate insight, helping clinicians treat children faster while reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, therefore helping to slow the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Early feedback from the trial has been promising. Doctors report cases where the test enabled quicker intervention, including children with meningococcal meningitis and sepsis who received appropriate treatment without delay.
The study, led by the University of Liverpool and Health Innovation North West Coast, is supported by NHS England’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme. This initiative helps accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies that can transform NHS care.
Running until March next year, the project highlights the vital role that BIVDA members like MeMed play in bringing groundbreaking diagnostics to the frontline of healthcare.
