What is in the Meningitis Panel

The Meningitis Panel from Igenesis detects and differentiates 11 pathogens commonly associated with meningitis and encephalitis. Each is identified by its unique melting temperature (Tm) curve using a combination of specific primers and probes:

• Neisseria meningitidis

• Haemophilus influenzae

• Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Group A Streptococcus

• Streptococcus agalactiae

• Streptococcus suis

• Escherichia coli

• Listeria monocytogenes

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis

• Cryptococcus

Each test uses a single sealed iCassette for automated processing. The melting curve output allows for accurate, pathogen-specific identification in a matter of hours.

Role of Meningitis Panel Targets in Disease

CNS infections are medical emergencies that require rapid, accurate pathogen identification. The pathogens in this Meningitis Panel represent key causes of meningitis and encephalitis across patient populations:

• Bacterial pathogens like Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes are leading causes of acute bacterial meningitis, particularly in children and elderly patients.

• Fungal agents such as Cryptococcus play a major role in immunocompromised populations, especially in HIV/AIDS patients.

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a critical target due to the global burden of tuberculous meningitis.

• *Group A Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli are essential for neonatal, post-operative, or healthcare-associated cases.

Differentiating between these pathogens is essential to guide antimicrobial therapy, improve prognosis, and prevent sequelae.

About the Encephalitis and Meningitis Syndrome Kit

The Encephalitis and Meningitis Syndrome 11-Pathogen Nucleic Acid Detection Kit by Igenesis is a multiplex diagnostic assay for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and whole blood specimens. The kit uses proprietary iCassette technology, enabling fully enclosed sample processing from start to finish.

Each kit contains:

• 12 MES11 iCassettes with integrated magnetic bead-based extraction and lyophilized reagents

• Positive and negative controls

• Sterile deionized water for sample dilution and reconstitution

Once loaded, the iCassette is automatically processed by Galaxy instruments. The QR code on each cassette ensures protocol matching and traceability.

The assay detects target gene regions with minimal risk of mutation, and its design ensures a limit of detection (LoD) of 500 copies/mL with a precision CV <5%.

Principle and Workflow

This Meningitis Panel utilizes multiplex PCR with melting curve analysis to identify pathogens in a single run:

1. Sample Input: Add CSF or whole blood directly into the MES11 iCassette. No pretreatment required.

2. Ultrasonication: Optional for blood samples (automated within Galaxy Neo).

3. Fully Automated Run: Load the cassette into the Galaxy instrument. The device scans the QR code, executes the matched protocol, and performs lysis, extraction, amplification, and analysis.

4. Melting Curve Analysis: Software identifies pathogen-specific Tm peaks in FAM, CY5, and ROX channels.

5. Result Interpretation: Each run outputs a full result set including Tm values, internal control status, and strain identification.

This streamlined workflow is ideal for emergency diagnostics and 24/7 lab settings.

Clinical Application

The Igenesis Meningitis Panel is suited for:

• Hospital microbiology labs handling urgent meningitis cases

• Neurology and ICU departments requiring rapid CNS pathogen identification

• Public health laboratories monitoring outbreak scenarios

• Neonatal and pediatric testing for fast identification of sepsis-related meningitis

• Tertiary care and infectious disease centers seeking differential diagnostics of CNS infections

By targeting both common and high-risk meningitis pathogens in a single run, this panel enhances diagnostic efficiency, reduces time-to-result, and improves patient outcomes.