The NHS is trialling a rapid 15-minute blood test aimed at speeding diagnosis of potentially life‑threatening infections in children this winter.
NHS England is funding the pilot at three sites — Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (Liverpool), St Mary’s Hospital (London) and Great North Children’s Hospital (Newcastle) — to evaluate whether faster results help emergency teams make quicker clinical decisions. The test, MeMed BV, distinguishes viral from bacterial infections in roughly 15 minutes, compared with conventional laboratory tests that can take several hours.
Quicker differentiation between viral and bacterial causes could enable more targeted treatment, cut unnecessary antibiotic use and free up clinical resources. Clinicians involved in the trial already report tangible benefits, including faster treatment for a child with meningococcal meningitis and prompt antibiotics for a child with sepsis.
The study is led by the University of Liverpool and Health Innovation North West Coast, funded through NHS England’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme, which supports fast adoption of new technologies in the health service. Project lead Professor Enitan Carrol explains that many children attend hospital with fever, and a reliable rapid test can help separate minor viral illnesses from serious bacterial infections. The trial will assess whether MeMed BV shortens decision times and reduces unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.
Clinicians at participating hospitals say the test could make a vital difference in paediatric emergency care. Dr Charlotte Durand, a consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey, says the technology can change how quickly teams act in the ED. Dr Emma Lim, consultant paediatrician at the Great North Children’s Hospital, adds that a fast, dependable result would reduce uncertainty for clinicians and families and lower avoidable antibiotic use.
The pilot comes as the NHS prepares for another pressured winter: 2025 is currently projected to be among the busiest on record for A&E and ambulance services. Local NHS teams have tested winter plans, identified patients most vulnerable to seasonal viruses for targeted interventions and vaccinations, and are coordinating with local authorities and social care to speed discharges when demand peaks. Around half of ambulance services now have access to shared care records so paramedics and clinicians can view patients’ medical histories in the field.
The MeMed BV trial runs until March next year and is one of several SBRI-funded projects designed to accelerate the roll-out of innovative healthcare technology across the NHS.
