The 60 Percent Diagnostic Gap in M/E

What earlier mNGS testing could mean for labs and clinicians

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Over 60% of meningitis/encephalitis cases remain undiagnosed despite extensive testing in well-resourced hospitals.
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Current diagnostics are hypothesis-driven, often leading to delays due to the stepwise nature of testing and limited cerebrospinal fluid volume.
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Earlier use of comprehensive metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can significantly reduce time to diagnosis and microbiologic tests ordered.
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mNGS is particularly beneficial for immunocompromised patients and those with atypical presentations, culture-negative results, or limited CSF volume.
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Successful integration of mNGS into clinical practice requires validation, standardized reporting, clinician education, and clear ordering criteria.

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