New rapid host response gene expression testing can address diagnostic uncertainty in suspected sepsis patients, guiding clinical management after a sepsis alert. Implementing a higher accuracy test to differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammation in the ED or post operatively can help to rule in or rule out sepsis and thus improve outcomes, health care costs and antimicrobial stewardship. Additionally, the alignment of host response testing with blood culture positivity enables clinicians to prioritize blood cultures for patients most likely to benefit, reducing unnecessary testing, contamination rates, and laboratory costs.

Presenter: Jane Louise Papadaki Markley, VP Commercial Operations, Immunexpress
Jane has 30 years of experience in the global clinical diagnostic marketplace, holding leadership positions within large corporations such as Quest Diagnostics and also successful startups such as Asuragen. She has successfully pioneered new technologies for infectious diseases, immunology, oncology and genetic diseases, overcoming market entry barriers and driving adoption through validation studies and educational campaigns. More recently with Immunexpress, she has led the worldwide launch of SeptiCyte RAPID.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the challenges associated with triaging suspected sepsis patients when there is diagnostic uncertainty
2. Understand how rapid host response testing can guide clinical decision making and improve CMS bundle compliance
3. Interpret host response test results for likelihood of blood culture positivity
4. Explain the role of an accurate and rapid host response test to impact anti-microbial stewardship