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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Rapid Detection of Respiratory Pathogens Using Microfluidic Chip
Published on: March 29, 2024
BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel enhances detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in lower respiratory
Kosuke Kosai1, Norihiko Akamatsu2, Kenji Ota2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan. k-kosai@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
Background:
This study investigated the diagnostic utility of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (PN panel), an automated and multiplexed nucleic acid detection system that rapidly detects 26 pathogens (18 bacteria and eight viruses) and seven antimicrobial resistance markers in a single assay.
Methods:
We analyzed the targets in lower respiratory tract specimens using the PN panel and compared the detection results with those of bacterial culture methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Results:
Of the 57 samples analyzed, the PN panel detected 97 targets (84 bacteria, four viruses, and nine antimicrobial resistance markers). Detection of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance was three times greater than that of the bacterial culture (25 bacteria and two resistant isolates) against the targets available in the panel. The overall positive and negative percent agreements between the PN panel and culture methods for bacterial detection were 100.0% and 92.9%, respectively. Multiple pathogens were detected by the PN panel in 24 samples (42.1%), ranging from two pathogens in 11 samples (19.3%) to six pathogens in one sample (1.8%). The PN panel semiquantitatively detected higher copies (≥ 106 copies/mL) of bacterial targets if the bacteria were positive by the culture method. In contrast, the semiquantitative values obtained by the panel varied (104 to 107 ≤ copies/mL) among bacteria that were negative by the culture method.
Conclusions:
The PN panel enhanced the detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers in lower respiratory tract specimens.
Insights
The BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (PN panel) significantly improves pathogen and antimicrobial resistance detection in respiratory samples compared to traditional culture methods. This automated assay offers enhanced diagnostic utility for pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Clinical microbiology
- Molecular diagnostics
- Infectious disease diagnostics
Background:
- The BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (PN panel) is an automated, multiplexed nucleic acid detection system.
- It rapidly identifies 26 pathogens (18 bacteria, 8 viruses) and 7 antimicrobial resistance markers in a single assay.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the PN panel for lower respiratory tract infections.
- To compare PN panel results with conventional bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 57 lower respiratory tract specimens using the PN panel.
- Comparison of PN panel detection results against bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- The PN panel detected 97 targets, including 84 bacteria, 4 viruses, and 9 antimicrobial resistance markers.
- Bacterial and antimicrobial resistance detection was threefold higher than bacterial culture.
- Positive and negative percent agreements for bacterial detection between the PN panel and culture were 100.0% and 92.9%, respectively.
- Multiplex pathogen detection occurred in 42.1% of samples.
Conclusions:
- The PN panel significantly enhances the detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers in lower respiratory tract specimens.
- This molecular assay provides improved diagnostic capabilities for pneumonia.
