New Test for Viral Meningitis

In March 2007, the FDA approved a rapid test to help distinguish between viral and bacterial meningitis. The Xpert EV test is a fully automated assay that provides results in about 2.5 hours. The test employs a disposable single-use cartridge to test cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for enterovirus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Enteroviruses cause about 90% of viral meningitis cases. The test approval rested on results of a multisite study in 255 patients showing that 96% of patients who tested positive had viral meningitis and 97% of patients who tested negative did not have viral meningitis.