MedGenome expands its infectious disease testing portfolio with MetaSeq

New Delhi: MedGenome, India’s leading genomics-driven diagnostics company, today announced the launch of MetaSeq, an advanced blood test designed to support faster and more comprehensive detection of bloodstream infections (BSI).

MetaSeq uses metagenomic next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyse microbial cell-free DNA (cfDNA) present in the bloodstream. This enables identification of more than 1,400 clinically relevant pathogens in a single test, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and DNA viruses, without the need for multiple targeted assays.

Traditionally, diagnosing bloodstream infections depends on blood culture tests that can take several days and may yield negative results if patients have been taking antibiotics. MetaSeq detects microbial DNA directly from blood samples, allowing infections to be identified even when traditional methods are inconclusive.The test delivers results in approximately five days and has demonstrated higher sensitivity compared to standard blood culture. This supports clinicians to identify infections with greater confidence, enabling earlier, more informed treatment decisions, especially in critically ill and immunocompromised patients.

MetaSeq is CE-IVD validated for peripheral blood samples, which means that the test can also be performed on other clinical sample types such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and ascitic fluid.

Commenting on the launch, Vedam Ramprasad, PhD, CEO, MedGenome Labs Ltd, said, “Diagnosing bloodstream infections continues to be one of the most challenging areas in clinical care, as hospitals employ symptom-based provisional diagnosis and doctors are often forced to make treatment decisions relying on probability. This leads to longer courses of treatment, repeated testing, and delays in adjusting the right therapy. MedGenome’s mission is to enable early and accurate diagnosis and targeted disease management through genomics and molecular-level actionable insights. MetaSeq is set to transform the clinical decision-making process by offering more precise diagnostic visibility earlier in the medical care pathway, empowering clinicians with reliable and timely information and improving patient outcomes. With MetaSeq, we are raising the standard for speed, sensitivity, and reliability in infectious disease diagnostics in India.”

MedGenome partnered with Noscendo, a leading German company specializing in software-based pathogen diagnostics, to develop this test. MetaSeq is powered by Noscendo’s DISQVER^® platform, which uses advanced bioinformatics algorithms for accurate pathogen identification. DISQVER^® is recognized by the World Health Organization as the only clinically approved NGS platform for diagnosing invasive fungal diseases.

Andreas Käpplein, CEO, Noscendo, said, “This collaboration between MedGenome and Noscendo has the potential to revolutionize infection diagnostics in South Asia. With its precise pathogen identification, MetaSeq lays the foundation for more accurate and faster diagnosis of infections. In critical cases, this can significantly improve treatment outcomes and even save lives. Patients across India can now benefit from these advancements.”

As a leader in science-backed omics solutions aimed at the unmet healthcare needs in India, MedGenome continues to develop innovative tests, improving health outcomes. By identifying pathogens often missed by routine diagnostics, reducing the unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and enabling more precise and timely management of serious infections, MetaSeq has the potential to significantly reduce India’s disease burden.