New Publication Supports the Role of SeptiCyte® RAPID To Improve Infection Diagnosis in Post Surgery and Trauma Patients

The study demonstrates strong performance distinguishing infection from sterile inflammation in post-op and trauma patients, when routine tests aren't reliable.

SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Immunexpress, a molecular diagnostics company focused on improving outcomes for patients with suspected sepsis, today announced the publication of a new study which highlights the potential of SeptiCyte^® RAPID to address one of the most challenging diagnostic dilemmas in critical care: distinguishing true healthcare-associated infection (HAI) from the sterile inflammatory response (SIRS) that commonly follows surgery and patients admitted to the hospital with major trauma.

The study “Clinical evaluation of the SeptiScore biomarker for the diagnosis of healthcare-associated infections in critically ill trauma patients: a multicenter derivation and validation cohort study” was published in BMC Anesthesiology by researchers at the Universities of Nantes and Marseilles, France.

The publication is particularly relevant for trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensivists, who routinely manage patients in whom postoperative or post-traumatic inflammation can closely resemble sepsis. Because traditional biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cell count often increase in both conditions, clinicians are frequently left with diagnostic uncertainty during the critical window when treatment decisions must be made. By measuring the patient's immune response rather than inflammation alone, SeptiCyte RAPID may provide an additional objective measure to complement clinical judgement when conventional biomarkers are equivocal.

The study found that SeptiCyte RAPID, a rapid host-response gene expression assay, demonstrated superior diagnostic performance compared with conventional biomarkers used for identifying HAIs in critically ill trauma patients. “While CRP and procalcitonin levels rise as the infection progresses, SeptiCyte RAPID may detect HCAIs at an earlier stage by analyzing gene expression patterns. Repeated SeptiScore measurements may facilitate earlier HCAI diagnosis, potentially preceding the appearance of clinical signs” stated Dr Lisa NEUTRE (Service d’Anesthésie Réanimation, CHU de Nantes, France.

From a derivation patient cohort, researchers selected a predefined SeptiScore threshold that prioritized sensitivity, reporting a 100% sensitivity, 90% specificity and AUC = 0.98 in the validation patient cohort. These findings suggest that SeptiCyte RAPID may provide clinicians with greater confidence when infection is less likely, supporting more informed clinical assessment alongside other diagnostic information.

Unlike microbiological cultures, taking 24 to 72 hours for results, SeptiCyte RAPID delivers results in one hour. This rapid turnaround has the potential to provide actionable information during the same clinical decision window in which physicians must decide whether to initiate antibiotics, order additional imaging, perform invasive investigations or escalate ICU care. Greater confidence in ruling out infection could help reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure, avoid invasive procedures and support careful observation when clinically appropriate, while ensuring patients with suspected infection continue to receive prompt evaluation and treatment.

About SeptiCyte^® RAPID
SeptiCyte^® RAPID is a sample-to-answer, cartridge-based, host response molecular test for sepsis using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to quantify the relative expression of two host response genes (PLAC8 and PLA2G7) from whole blood. SeptiCyte^® RAPID generates a SeptiScore^® within approximately one hour, reported across four interpretation bands reflecting increasing likelihood of sepsis. SeptiCyte^® RAPID is intended for use in conjunction with clinical assessments, vital signs, and other laboratory findings as an aid in differentiating infection-positive sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammation.

SeptiCyte^® RAPID runs on the Biocartis Idylla™ platform and is CE Marked in Europe. The test has received FDA clearance in the United States for use in hospitalized patients suspected of sepsis.

About Immunexpress
Immunexpress is a molecular diagnostics company based in Brisbane, Australia, and Seattle, USA, dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with suspected sepsis. The company’s SeptiCyte^® technology assesses a patient’s dysregulated immune response by quantifying gene expression from whole blood, delivering actionable information during the critical early hours of sepsis evaluation. By enabling earlier and more confident clinical decision-making, Immunexpress aims to improve patient outcomes while helping reduce the economic burden of sepsis on healthcare systems worldwide

Jane papadaki markley
Immunexpress
+1 714-655-4448
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
YouTube