Title: Quickly diagnosing meningitis/encephalitis: Clinical validation of a rapid multiplex PCR panel test
Speaker: Thomas Sundelin Ph.D. Clinical Microbiology Department, Herlev Hospital, Denmark

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) – meningitis and encephalitis – require immediate medical attention. Recent publications indicate that incorporating rapid multiplex PCR panel testing can speed up the time-to-diagnosis for CNS infections. In this webinar, Dr. Thomas Sundelin from the Clinical Microbiology Department at Herlev Hospital in Denmark discusses the clinical validation of QIAGEN’s rapid multiplex PCR test for CNS infections, the QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel.

Title: Improved diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections with a rapid PCR panel test

Speaker: Pierre Lureau Ph.D. Medical Director, Medical Biology Laboratory, Hospital Center of Niort, France

Acute gastrointestinal (GI) infections are strikingly common. Worldwide, there are over 2 billion cases every year. Correctly diagnosing these infections can help healthcare providers deliver timely and efficient care. In this webinar, Pierre Lureau Ph.D., director of the Medical Biology Laboratory at the Hospital Center of Niort in Deux-Sèvres, France, explains how the QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel has improved GI diagnostics at his institution. He describes how the panel has simplified the laboratory’s GI testing workflow, increased the detection of pathogens and improved medical services for in and outpatients.

Syndromic panels for quick and effective diagnosis of meningitis and gastroenteritis

Speaker: Liliana Gabrielli, M.D., Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna, Italy

When a patient is critically ill, a quick diagnosis is crucial. New multiplex molecular tools have the potential to speed up the timely and effective delivery of therapeutics. But how do these sensitive and specific multiplex tools compare to routine diagnostic approaches, like singleplex real-time PCR? In this webinar, Dr. Liliana Gabrielli evaluates the potential performance of rapid molecular syndromic testing for the etiological diagnosis of central nervous system and gastrointestinal infections.

Title: Looking in the crystal ball: What will influenza-like illness season potentially look like post-COVID-19
pandemic?
Speaker: Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, CMQ, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way influenza-like illnesses are diagnosed and managed. In addition, the seasonality of respiratory pathogens has shifted, making it difficult to predict future respiratory seasons. In this webinar, Dr. Roy F. Chemaly of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses the impact of the pandemic on the incidence of respiratory viruses. He also explains how the diagnostic tools used to detect these viruses has evolved, and why a comprehensive diagnostic approach is crucial going forward, especially for immunocompromised patients.

Title: How is syndromic testing currently being used in the clinic and how will it impact diagnostics going forward?
Panel host: Davide Manissero, MD, MRCPCH, MSc, DTM&H, Chief Medical Officer, QIAGEN
Panel members: Stephan Gehring, Prof Dr Med, Children’s Hospital Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Germany Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, CMQ, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA Susan A. Weaver, PhD, CLS, Natividad Medical Center, USA

As SARS-CoV-2 approaches endemic status, it will become increasingly important to quickly distinguish COVID-19 from other influenza-like illnesses. Multiplex PCR panel tests can detect and differentiate multiple pathogens at once. But how are these tests currently being used in the clinic and how will they impact diagnostics going forward? In this panel discussion, join three experts in infectious diseases as they discuss their personal experiences using multiplex testing and address pressing questions about this diagnostic approach.

Title: A new multiplex syndromic system for respiratory diagnosis and improved patient care
Speaker: Dr. Steve Young, Director of Research and Clinical Trials, TriCore Reference Laboratories

This webinar discusses how a new multiplexed testing system can help physicians rapidly diagnose acute respiratory infections. Acute respiratory tract infections are caused by a wide range of viral and bacterial pathogens and may share similar clinical presentations that make it difficult for physicians to diagnose based on symptoms alone. Syndromic testing with multiplex molecular panels offers clinical labs a way to quickly distinguish between a broad array of respiratory pathogens. In this webinar, Dr. Steve Young of Tricore Reference Laboratories presents a new technology for multiplexed respiratory testing in acutely ill patients. He shares data demonstrating the capabilities of syndromic respiratory testing as well as his impressions on the ease of doing comprehensive syndromic testing using the QIAstat-Dx Analyzer.

Title: The clinical outcomes of using dry swabs for respiratory syndromic testing 
Speaker: Donia Bouzid, MD, PhD, Bichat Claude-Bernard Hospital, Emergency Department, France

This webinar discusses how multiplex syndromic testing using dry swab samples has positively impacted clinical decision making in a hospital in Paris, France. Dr. Donia Bouzid describes how prior to adopting multiplex PCR, Bichat Claude-Bernard Hospital experienced long wait times between the arrival of patients at the hospital and the diagnosis of respiratory infections. She then discusses how the faster turnaround time and comprehensive results provided by syndromic testing with the QIAstat-Dx Analyzer have influenced clinical outcomes at the hospital, including positively impacting single room assignment.

Title: Tackling COVID-19 through syndromic testing – QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2
Speaker: Davide Manissero, MD, MRCPCH, MSc, DTM&H, VP Head of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, Infection & Immune Diagnostics, QIAGEN

During this webinar, QIAGEN Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davide Manissero will discuss the role of multiplex respiratory PCR testing in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how QIAGEN ramped up development efforts to be the first syndromic solution on the market. The importance of time to diagnosis and potential for co-infections as we approach the 2020-2021 influenza season will be discussed.

Title: Impact of antimicrobial stewardship intervention in conjunction with rapid multiplex respiratory diagnostics

Speaker: Eric Wenzler, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, AAHIVP, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Pharmacy, USA

Quickly distinguishing between viral and bacterial causes of respiratory illness can lead to optimized antibacterial and antiviral use and assist with decisions on hospital admission and infection control. In this webinar, Dr. Wenzler explains how multiplex respiratory panels can enable quick and definitive pathogen identification to support antimicrobial stewardship efforts and optimize clinical and economic outcomes.