New Diagnostic Tool Identifies Pediatric Sepsis
A study validates the SeptiCyte RAPID test for detecting sepsis in critically ill children.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Children’s Health
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Published on September 1, 2026, a new study demonstrates the ability of the SeptiCyte RAPID test to distinguish between sepsis and noninfectious inflammation in children. The tool provides a SeptiScore from 0 to 15 to assess infection likelihood within approximately one hour.
Why it matters
Distinguishing infection-driven sepsis from noninfectious inflammation is a difficult and time-sensitive decision in pediatric critical care. Reliable diagnostics are essential to improving clinical outcomes for children suspected of having the condition.
The validation study included 284 children and utilized a cartridge-based molecular platform that requires 250uL of blood. The test achieved an area under the curve of 0.83 when evaluated independently.
The players
Immunexpress
This Brisbane-based molecular diagnostics company specializes in developing tests for sepsis and immune response detection.
The details
The test measures immune response to infection and provides a results-based score in about an hour. A separate study found that the Epic Pediatric Sepsis Early Detection Model identified 36 percent of pediatric cases across 166,943 encounters, though it maintained a positive predictive value of only 3 percent.
Timeline
January 2024 through June 2025: Period covered by the JAMA Pediatrics retrospective study.
September 1, 2026: Publication date of the SeptiCyte RAPID validation study.
Early October 2026: Publication date of the JAMA Pediatrics sepsis alert study.
October 15, 2026: Immunexpress announced the results of the validation study.
The Big Picture
The study on the SeptiCyte RAPID test provides a more targeted diagnostic measurement than the screening sensitivity reported by the Epic Pediatric Sepsis Early Detection Model. This advancement represents a shift toward precise molecular diagnostics over broad electronic alert systems.
This diagnostic tool could eventually streamline the decision-making process for clinicians treating critically ill children by providing rapid results. Faster identification of sepsis can lead to more timely medical interventions for patients in critical care.
The takeaway
Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are critical for distinguishing infectious sepsis from other inflammatory conditions. Clinicians and caregivers should watch for further real-world evidence regarding the clinical integration of molecular sepsis tests.
Further reading
Find more updates on pediatric diagnostics at Children’s Health.
More information
For detailed information on the platform, visit the Immunexpress molecular diagnostics company information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Startup Fortune.
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