Immunexpress cites study backing SeptiCyte RAPID for post-op and trauma infection diagnosis

Immunexpress said a new multicenter study published in BMC Anesthesiology supports SeptiCyte RAPID’s ability to distinguish healthcare-associated infection from sterile inflammation in critically ill trauma patients. The findings could help clinicians make faster antibiotic and ICU decisions when routine biomarkers are inconclusive.

Why it matters: - Post-surgical and trauma patients often develop inflammation that looks like infection, making bedside decisions harder. - SeptiCyte RAPID may give clinicians an additional objective signal when C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cell count do not clearly separate infection from sterile inflammation. - Faster, more confident infection triage could help limit unnecessary antibiotics, invasive testing and delays in care.

What happened: - Immunexpress announced publication of a new study on SeptiCyte RAPID in BMC Anesthesiology. - Researchers at the Universities of Nantes and Marseilles in France published the multicenter derivation and validation cohort study. - The paper, titled “Clinical evaluation of the SeptiScore biomarker for the diagnosis of healthcare-associated infections in critically ill trauma patients: a multicenter derivation and validation cohort study,” evaluated infection diagnosis in critically ill trauma patients.

The details: - The study focused on the challenge of distinguishing healthcare-associated infection from sterile inflammatory response after surgery or major trauma. - SeptiCyte RAPID is a rapid host-response gene expression assay. - The test measures the patient’s immune response rather than inflammation alone. - In the validation cohort, a predefined SeptiScore threshold produced 100% sensitivity, 90% specificity and an AUC of 0.98. - Dr. Lisa Neutre of CHU de Nantes said repeated SeptiScore measurements may help identify healthcare-associated infection earlier and may precede clinical signs. - SeptiCyte RAPID returned results in about one hour. - Microbiological cultures typically take 24 to 72 hours. - The faster turnaround can fit the same decision window in which physicians decide whether to start antibiotics, order imaging, perform invasive investigations or escalate ICU care.

Between the lines: - The study reinforces a broader move toward host-response diagnostics in critical care, where single inflammatory markers often lack specificity. - The strongest practical value appears to be in ruling out infection more confidently, which could support observation when clinically appropriate. - The results do not replace clinical judgment or other testing, but they may reduce uncertainty when conventional biomarkers are equivocal.

What's next: - SeptiCyte RAPID is intended to be used with clinical assessments, vital signs and other laboratory findings. - The test runs on the Biocartis Idylla platform. - SeptiCyte RAPID is CE marked in Europe and has FDA clearance in the U.S. for hospitalized patients suspected of sepsis. - Immunexpress said its SeptiCyte technology is designed to support earlier and more confident clinical decision-making in suspected sepsis.