The Expanding Role of Diagnostic Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

DATE: October 09, 2020

TIME:  08:00am PDT

As the primary diagnostic tool for infectious diseases, traditional culture techniques are coming under scrutiny for failing to universally detect infections resulting from biofilms, viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria, and persister microbial cells in patients. In the presence of infectious symptoms and other biomarkers suggestive of active disease, such negative culture results may delay appropriate treatment or result in treatment failure with an antimicrobial agent insufficient to resolve the infection. Advances in the speed, affordability, and utility of information offered from Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) results made available to the clinical laboratorian and to treating clinician argue for an expanded role for coincident culture along with NGS testing in those patients with either an acute or a chronic infection. In this webinar, we will discuss:

In this webinar we will discuss:

• The limitations inherent in traditional microbiological culture techniques, including how biofilms, viable but non-culturable bacteria, and persister cells influence the diagnosis and treatment of these infections.
• The added value afforded from coincident culture plus NGS testing in making timely clinical decisions, resulting in improved patient outcomes and precision antimicrobial stewardship outcomes.
• How coincident culture and NGS testing may enhance and improve diagnostic microbiology.

Webinars will be available for unlimited on-demand viewing after live event.