MedGenome Launches MetaSeq to Detect Over 1,400 Pathogens in a Single Blood Test

The test is designed to support earlier clinical decision-making, particularly in critically ill and immunocompromised patients, where delays in diagnosis can significantly affect outcomes.

MedGenome has announced the launch of MetaSeq, a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based blood test aimed at improving the diagnosis of bloodstream infections (BSIs) through faster and more comprehensive pathogen detection. 

The test is designed to support earlier clinical decision-making, particularly in critically ill and immunocompromised patients, where delays in diagnosis can significantly affect outcomes.

MetaSeq analyses microbial cell-free DNA (cfDNA) directly from blood samples using metagenomic NGS technology. This approach enables the identification of more than 1,400 clinically relevant pathogens—including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and DNA viruses—in a single test. According to the company, results are delivered in approximately five days, offering a broader and more sensitive alternative to conventional diagnostic methods.

Bloodstream infections are traditionally diagnosed using blood culture tests, which often require several days to produce results and can return false negatives, especially in patients who have already received antibiotic treatment. These limitations frequently lead clinicians to rely on symptom-based assessments and empirical therapies. MetaSeq is positioned to address these challenges by detecting pathogen DNA directly from blood, even when viable organisms are not detectable through culture-based techniques.

The test has been CE-IVD validated for use with peripheral blood samples and can also be applied to other clinical specimen types, including cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and ascitic fluid. This expands its potential application beyond bloodstream infections to other invasive and difficult-to-diagnose infectious conditions.

Commenting on the launch, Vedam Ramprasad, PhD, CEO of MedGenome Labs Ltd, said that diagnosing bloodstream infections remains one of the most complex aspects of clinical care, often resulting in prolonged treatment courses, repeated testing, and delays in targeted therapy. He noted that MetaSeq is designed to provide earlier and more accurate diagnostic insights using genomics-driven analysis.

MetaSeq was developed in partnership with Noscendo, a Germany-based company specialising in software-driven pathogen diagnostics. The test is powered by Noscendo’s DISQVER® platform, which uses advanced bioinformatics algorithms to identify pathogens from sequencing data. DISQVER® is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the only clinically approved NGS platform for diagnosing invasive fungal diseases.

According to Andreas Käpplein, CEO of Noscendo, the collaboration aims to improve access to precise pathogen identification across India, with a focus on enabling faster and more accurate diagnosis in critical infection cases.

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