# Likelihood of Blood Culture Positivity Using SeptiCyte RAPID

## TL;DR

A new test called SeptiCyte RAPID can predict blood culture positivity in sepsis patients, potentially improving diagnostic efficiency in resource-limited settings.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that SeptiScores can predict blood culture positivity before results are available, offering a novel diagnostic aid.

## Key findings

- SeptiScores show a strong correlation with blood culture positivity (ROC AUC of 0.91 for BC+ cases).
- A SeptiScore above 10 increases the likelihood of a positive blood culture result.
- The test may improve blood culture efficiency in low-resource and emergency settings.

## Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis and identification of causative pathogens using blood culture in patients suspected of blood stream infection (BSI) and sepsis are critical for improving patient outcomes through earlier and more targeted treatment. There is a need for tools that can guide the use of microbiologic diagnostics, especially where resources are limited, such as in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pandemic and mass-casualty scenarios, and prolonged field care settings during military operations. Methods: Post hoc retrospective analysis of individual patient data from three prospective clinical studies, conducted in North America, Europe and Africa, to investigate the association between SeptiCyte RAPID test results (SeptiScores) and blood culture (BC) results. Hypothesis: that a significant correlation exists between elevated SeptiScores and positive blood culture results, and between low SeptiScores and negative blood culture results. Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was 0.91 for 85 BC(+) versus 257 SIRS and was 0.80 for 164 BC(−) versus 257 SIRS. As the SeptiScore increases, the relative probability of a septic patient being BC(+) as opposed to BC(−) also increases. A non-linear positive correlation is observed. Below a crossover point at SeptiScore 10, the ratio of probabilities of BC(+) sepsis/BC(−) sepsis is <1, while above the crossover point, this ratio is >1. Thus, septic patients with SeptiScores >10 have a higher probability of being BC(+) compared to BC(−). Conclusions: Elevated SeptiScores, obtained before blood culture results, are indicative of increased blood culture positivity. This may have clinical utility, particularly in resource-limited settings, as an aid for improving the efficiency of blood culture practice, for instance, by informing patient selection and interpretation of blood culture results.