Fast + Comprehensive: Two Molecular Technologies
The qPCR + NGS solution
MicroGenDX offers you two detailed diagnostic reports in rapid succession.
The first, a qPCR report in 24-48 hours, provides total bacterial load, any antimicrobial resistance genes present, and detection of a few known pathogens. Physicians find the antimicrobial resistance genes helpful for patients who are already on antimicrobial treatment. However, qPCR will only detect the commonly-known microbes selected for a limited qPCR panel. Because of this, qPCR by itself can miss the dominant species in the sample up to 60% of the time. Which means that initiation of new antimicrobials is not recommended prior to receiving the NGS report that follows.
The second report provides next-generation sequencing (NGS) results in 3.5 days. This includes everything in the qPCR report, plus a complete list of clinically relevant microbes in the sample — and their abundance distribution — using NGS. These microbes are referenced against a custom database of 50,000 species. In addition, the qPCR+NGS report offers research-based antimicrobials for consideration, based on the Sanford Guide and Johns Hopkins Guides. These combined qPCR+NGS results provide detailed and accurate clinical diagnostic information for the most confident treatment decisions.
References
- Matthew Dixon, Maria Stefil, Michael McDonald, Truls Erik Bjerklund-Johansen , Kurt Naber, Florian Wagenlehner, Vladimir Mouraviev. Metagenomics in diagnosis and improved targeted treatment of UTI. World J Urol . 2020 Jan;38(1):35-43. doi: 10.1007/s00345-019-02731-9.
- Internal competitive analysis of qPCR and NGS – data on file.
The power of NGS
over culture and PCR
In a published case study of a patient with recurrent UTI that compared diagnostic results from four separate labs, only NGS by MicroGenDX correctly identified B. fragilis as the dominant species — with 50% of the total microbial load.
In contrast, both culture and PCR tests run at three other labs mistakenly identified E. coli as the dominant species. The patient was then treated with Clindamycin, and symptoms resolved. View sample report