BioFire Diagnostics initiates clinical study for the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel

BioFire Diagnostics, LLC, bioMérieux’s molecular biology affiliate, has commenced clinical and analytical studies to evaluate the company’s FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel, with plans to seek both FDA clearance and CE IVD marking.

Infection of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or of the brain (encephalitis) can have high mortality and morbidity rates depending on the source of infection. Acute bacterial meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Conversely, viral meningitis is more common, but typically mild and non-lethal. However, clinical diagnosis of the meningitis syndrome is difficult since their signs and symptoms are virtually indistinguishable. With a run time of about an hour, the comprehensive ME Panel requires only 200 μl of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to test simultaneously for 16 different bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens known to cause community-acquired meningitis and encephalitis.

“The commencement of studies to evaluate our meningitis test is exciting since the FilmArray has the potential to make a profound impact on treating this fatal disease, where symptoms can appear suddenly and escalate quickly,” says Randy Rasmussen, bioMérieux Corporate VP, Molecular Biology and CEO of BioFire Diagnostics. “We look forward to introducing the ME Panel to clinical laboratories throughout the world.”

The clinical studies are being conducted at numerous hospital-based clinical laboratories in the United States. BioFire expects the FDA submission in 2015. The ME Panel will be the fourth clinical diagnostic test to run on the FilmArray System. Learn more about the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel.