New research presented at the American Society for Microbiology, Microbe conference in Los Angeles highlights the potential of metagenomic next-generation sequencing to improve diagnostics for serious central nervous system infections. The data, shared by California-based biotechnology company Delve Bio, suggest that mNGS can detect pathogens missed by standard diagnostic tools.
The study compared Delve Bio’s mNGS cerebrospinal fluid test, known as Delve Detect CSF, with a commonly used PCR-based meningitis/encephalitis panel. In an analysis of 122 previously tested CSF samples, researchers found that Delve Detect identified additional infections in 25% of samples that tested negative on the PCR panel. Overall, the mNGS test showed a 10% higher positivity rate, identifying 16 unique organisms not covered by the traditional panel and several cases of co-infection.
Medical experts involved in the study noted that while there was strong agreement between the two testing methods, the broader pathogen detection capabilities of mNGS offered a significant diagnostic advantage.
“This study supports including mNGS in the diagnostic workup for patients with complex central nervous system infections,” said Dr. Benjamin Bradley, medical director of virology and molecular infectious diseases at ARUP Laboratories. “Delve Detect identified pathogens that would have otherwise gone undetected with current standard panels.”
Beyond the data presentation, Delve Bio participated in multiple sessions at the ASM Microbe 2025 conference. These included a clinical symposium led by the company’s chief medical officer, Dr. Steve Miller, a case report on a rare CNS shunt infection caused by Moraxella, and broader discussions on the evolving clinical role of next-generation sequencing.
The company emphasized that its mNGS platform, which includes a 48-hour turnaround and access to a clinical consultation board, is aimed at accelerating accurate diagnoses in time-sensitive situations.
While Delve Bio continues to promote the potential of its proprietary sequencing tools, broader questions remain about cost, scalability, and integration into existing clinical workflows. Nonetheless, studies like the one presented at ASM point to growing interest in mNGS as a complementary tool to traditional diagnostics.