What is in the Meningitis Panel?

The TRUPCR® Meningitis Panel Kit offers a multiplexed Real-Time PCR assay to detect the nucleic acid of 20 pathogens implicated in meningitis cases. It includes viral, bacterial, and fungal agents, allowing a full-spectrum approach to diagnosing meningitis causes in a single workflow. Pathogens targeted by the assay include:

Viruses: Enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex virus 1 & 2, Human adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Human herpesvirus 6 & 7, Human parechovirus, Human parvovirus B19, Mumps virus, Varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), and Non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium (NTM).

Fungi: Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii.

Role of Pathogens in Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and its etiology may be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Rapid pathogen identification is essential for timely treatment:

• Enterovirus & HSV-1/2 are common viral causes, especially in children and immunocompromised adults.
• Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are major bacterial agents of acute bacterial meningitis.
• Listeria monocytogenes is particularly dangerous in neonates and the elderly.
• Cryptococcus is a leading fungal cause in immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV/AIDS.
• MTBC is responsible for chronic meningitis with a high risk of mortality without early intervention.

Detection of these pathogens through a reliable meningitis-targeted test reduces diagnostic delays, ensuring early intervention.

About the TRUPCR® Meningitis Panel Kit

This Real-Time PCR-based assay is optimized for high-throughput detection of pathogens directly from CSF specimens. The test is designed with TaqMan hydrolysis probes to offer high specificity, and utilizes multiplexing technology, enabling the simultaneous identification of multiple targets in a single run. Each tube includes an endogenous internal control to ensure the integrity of the test results.

By combining comprehensive coverage with ease of use, this meningitis panel offers a robust tool for any molecular diagnostics laboratory or infectious disease unit.

Principle and Workflow

The TRUPCR® Meningitis Panel uses TaqMan chemistry in a real-time amplification format. It is built upon the following workflow:

1. Sample Preparation: Extract total nucleic acid from CSF or clinical isolates.
2. Reaction Setup: Add nucleic acid to pre-prepared master mix containing primers, probes, and enzymes.
3. PCR Amplification: Run the assay under thermal cycling conditions on a compatible Real-Time PCR instrument.
4. Data Analysis: Interpret Ct values and amplification curves. Internal control confirms successful PCR reaction.

This protocol ensures minimal hands-on time and maximum consistency across clinical samples.

Clinical Application

Meningitis can progress rapidly, and accurate pathogen identification is crucial to initiate appropriate antimicrobial or antiviral therapy. The TRUPCR® Meningitis Panel provides:

• Rapid turnaround (<2 hours) from CSF sample to result
• Comprehensive coverage of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens
• Reduced need for multiple singleplex assays or empirical therapy

Applicable across a wide range of clinical settings, from emergency departments to pediatric ICUs and transplant units, the TRUPCR® Meningitis Panel supports improved patient outcomes through faster diagnostics.